It’s been a week since Ike Opara asked Sporting Kansas City to “consider trading him.” Peter Vermes responded, “right now, with our roster, I’m not shopping anybody.” He continued, “these are the kind of conversations that go on all the time at the end of the year. Everybody wants more money. That’s not abnormal.”
It seems pretty clear that is what this is, a ploy to get additional money. It’s understandable why Opara would want a raise — though he did just get one before the 2018 season. He is actually signed through 2020 with a team option for 2021.