Real Salt Lake has parted ways with Luis Tejada, the Panamanian international who the club expected big things from this year.
Tejada was inked to a $105,000 non-guaranteed contract the day after RSL acquired Freddy Adu in a trade with D.C. United in November. During Tejada's introductory press conference, former coach John Ellinger said that the combination of Tejada and Jeff Cunningham should give RSL the most formidable attack in the league.
It never panned out.
Tejada arrived to training camp out of shape, and two months later he's still not in the necessary shape according to new coach Jason Kreis.
"He came into our preseason knowing that he would need to be fit, and he came in completely unfit. It was quite obvious his fitness level wasn't going to be high enough for the MLS," said Kreis during Saturday's postgame press conference. "It's not easy to work that hard. I don't think he's quite used to that. He just hasn't figured into plans."
Even though RSL hasn't officially announced the transactions, sources confirmed it's a done deal.
Tejada's only appearance this year came in the season opener when he was a late-game substitute in the 2-2 draw with FC Dallas.
The move leaves Real Salt Lake with three vacant roster spots, and at least $275,000 worth of salary cap space.
Two of those roster spots are senior roster spots thanks to Tejada's departure and the retirement of Kreis. The other is a development roster spot created by the season-ending knee injury to Jeff Rowland. RSL will likely try and fill those spots soon.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com