Yet another Seattle Sounders player will not be back to play next season. Guatemalan player Marco Pappa is being traded to play for the Colorado Rapids. His name was pulled from the MLS Re-Entry Draft without any comments from Pappa or the Sounders management. The pull occurred only minutes before the draft, raising more than a few eyebrows. As it often does, however, money came to be a factor.

Sounders GM and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey did say that he had hoped that the team could work something out to keep Pappa on the team, but it sounds like they either were not willing to maintain his pay or give him additional pay that he requested. Last week, the Sounders announced that they were unwilling to fulfill several players’ options and Pappa was one of them.

According to the MLS Players Union, Pappa was earning $75,000, which is not an obscene amount of money. In fact, the international player seems well within his rights to ask for such a sum, unless he had hoped for a much bigger amount to sign back on with the Sounders. With so many more funds being released next year, it makes you wonder how low the line is that managers are willing to cross for pay cuts; then again, a lot of that money being released is for drawing in new players.

Pappa’s behavior, however, may have also been a deciding factor. This past summer, he was arrested for a DUI. During the incident, his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit and he had been driving over 80 miles per hour. He was assessed by the MLS' Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, but as most people know, alcohol can certainly change one’s behavior as well as personality.

Pappa, a winger, was born in Guatemala City. He has been playing soccer since the age of 16 when he played for his local Municipal. Before playing for the Sounders, Pappa played for Chicago Fire from 2008 to 2012. Two of those years were on loan. He has been a part of Rave Green since 2014. He has made 49 appearances with the Sounders, scoring nine goals.

Whether the Sounders will be receiving another player or allocation funds for the exchange with the Colorado Rapids is yet unknown. The Rapids have been cutting players left and right and probably wish to use Pappa as a part of their plan to start over strong.

Good luck to you, Marco Pappa. Hopefully you will find a great spot on the Rapids.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia