TFC signs Logan Emory: NASL alumni fill the MLS ranks

Toronto FC announced that it has signed former Puerto Rico Islanders defender Logan Emory to a contract.

Emory impressed technical director and coach Aron Winter during a recent trial at the preseason Walt Disney World Classic.

“Logan is a strong young defender and he has many qualities we like to see in a player,” Winter in a release issued by the club. “We were impressed with his work ethic during his trial period in Orlando and I felt he performed well against Vancouver in our final preseason match. Logan gives us another option in defence and fits in well with our team’s style of play.”

Emory’s signing is another indication of just how important the development of NASL as what should be a stable second-division body in North American will mean to MLS. NASL is going into just its second season as the sole second-division body in North American, and it has already shipped more than an entire starting XI to MLS.

NASL had just eight teams in 2011. Last week, NASL confirmed that 14 of its 2011 alumni were on MLS rosters heading into opening weekend. Now, Emory is added to that list.

And, Canadian midfielder Mozzi Gyorio — who was with FC Tampa Bay last year — is with Sporting Kansas City on trial, but don’t expect to hear news on a deal until after he returns from the Canadian U-23 camp.

Think about it — in a league of eight teams, NASL has promoted enough players to fill one starting XI and a subs’ bench. That’s a significant number. Yes, the number was boosted because of ex-Carolina RailHawks coach Martin Rennie’s decision to bring a whole cadre of NASL alumni to Vancouver. And, true, many of the NASL guys who have made the move will start the season as depth players in MLS. But that’s part of the natural progression — move up from second division, get a first-division deal, then try to fight your way into an MLS starting lineup.

And, think of how the number of NASL players that come to MLS would be impacted if clubs at the top of the North American soccer period were willing to pay transfer fees to NASL clubs. MLS teams were snatching from a limited pool of players who would be available because they were on expiring deals.

For example, FC Edmonton, a team filled with young Canadian talent, was untouched by MLS teams — as the club’s core players had contracts that extended into 2012, which would force an MLS team to pay up if it wanted the likes of Shaun Saiko, Kyle Porter or Paul Hamilton. If FCE players would have been available for free, imagine how the number would have increased, because MLS teams basically had just seven of the eight teams from which to choose.