The Colorado Rapids announced the re-signing of midfielders Nick LaBrocca and Carlos Alvarez on Friday, a move that comes after the team declined their contract options at the end of the 2014 season.
The team also signed defender Marc Burch to a new deal. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
The Rapids traded LaBrocca to Toronto FC after drafting him 2007. He returned to the team in 2013 and scored 17 goals and had 18 assists in 116 matches for the club. The Denver Post had previously reported LaBrocca’s new contract on Jan. 27.
Alvarez — who made 10 appearances, six of which were starts — came to the Rapids from Chivas USA in July 2014. He had one assist last season.
“It is important to have players like Nick LaBrocca, Carlos Alvarez and Marc Burch on board,” Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni said in a statement. “They understand our new mentality and the messages from last season.”
LaBrocca and Alvarez were not picked up again in the MLS re-entry process, meaning other teams had a chance to sign them after the Rapids declined their option.
Burch — an MLS journeyman who previously played with the Seattle Sounders, DC United, Columbus Crew and LA Galaxy — played in 22 games in the 2014 season for the Rapids and had one goal. The team selected him at No. 11 in the first stage of the 2013 re-entry draft from Seattle.
“We are excited to bring these players back for this season,” technical director Paul Bravo said in a statement. “We expect them to compete for valuable minutes in 2015.”
