Adrian Heath calls Angelo Rodriguez contract buyout a decision that's `never easy'

Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath called the buyout of veteran striker Angelo Rodriguez's guaranteed contract "one of them things we felt we needed to do."

Rodriguez joined United as its second designated player in July 2018, but injury nagged him early last season and young striker Mason Toye's development sidelined him often late in the season. His contract buyout was finalized Friday.

"The one thing about Angelo is he has been a really good locker-room guy and sometimes it has not been easy for him," Heath said. "He saw the emergence of Mason come on. That's never easy. I've been there. When somebody brings somebody in younger than you to replace you and they start scoring goals, it's never easy.

"But he never really let his disappointment show within the locker room and with his teammates and I think that speaks volumes for him. We wish him nothing but the best."

The buyout takes him off United's salary cap for 2020 and leaves Rodriguez free to join club Deportivo Cali back home in Colombia rather than be loaned or transferred for the coming season.

Rodriguez was acquired on a contract that paid him $667,000 last season for his strength, physical hold-up play with the ball and scoring knack.

He started two games near the season's end -- a 1-0 loss at Seattle in the regular-season finale and a 2-1 loss to the L.A. Galaxy in a first-round home playoff game. He didn't score a goal in the last 11 games he played as starter or substitute.

"It was a really good game, a bit too competitive to my liking for the first week," Heath said. "It has been a great first week. I'm so pleased with the players' attitude, everything they've done. The quality has been excellent, but more the demeanor of the group and the energy they've brought has been terrific."

Toye scored two goals in the scrimmage while two players acquired midway through last seaosn -- midfielders Thomas Chacon and Robin Lod -- scored once each.

Heath praised Toye's runs off the ball and complimented second-year midfielder Hassani Dotson and newly acquired Marlon Hairston and Jacori Hayes, among others.

"One thing shown is we've gotten a lot deeper than we ever thought," Heath said. "I know it's only early days, but the people we've brought in have come in and really elevated everybody in the group."

Heath said he still intends the team will make at least three more moves:

"They've got a few injuries at the moment," Heath said. "We might have to wait and be a little patient."

2. He said only "the last bit of paperwork" remains before United signs Paraguayan striker Luis Amarilla. Heath said he is hopeful the 24-year-old will join the team sometime during its training in Florida.

3. Heath confirmed the team still is looking to add a center back for depth behind -- or with -- starters Ike Opara and Michael Boxall.

Opara trained Friday for the second consecutive day after being excused earlier this week to attend to a family matter.

"I feel pretty good," said Opara, the 2019 MLS Defender of the Year. "I'm in a really good place. I usually come back pretty fit."