Chicago Fire Trade for Left Back Chase Gasper, Per Report

The Chicago Fire continued to bolster their backline ahead of the 2024 Major League Soccer season, adding left back Chase Gasper in a trade from the Houston Dynamo.

Chicago is sending a third-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft to Houston in exchange for Gasper, which was all reported first by MenInRed97’s Alex Calabrese. Gasper will occupy a supplemental roster slot, per Calabrese, and won't count against the team’s salary cap for the next two seasons. The Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo are also reportedly paying for a portion of Gasper’s salary ($400,000 in 2023) in Chicago.

Gasper is expected to be the backup to offseason acquisition Andrew Gutman in the Fire’s left back role that was left vacant after the departures of Alonso Aceves and Miguel Navarro. Gasper was largely relegated to a reserve role with Houston in 2023 but did play the entire contest in the Dynamo’s 4-1 win over the Fire in the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals.

Trade Analysis

As a depth piece, Gasper brings a great deal of experience to a left back spot that has been an Achilles heel for the Fire in recent years. The former Maryland Terrapin has logged over 6,600 minutes in Major League Soccer since being selected by Minnesota United 15th overall in the 2019 SuperDraft, but his play hasn’t been great of late.

If Gasper can regain the form he had in Minnesota before being traded to the Galaxy, this incredibly low-risk deal for the Fire will pay dividends in 2024.