At the beginning of March, the New York Red Bulls announced defender Gideon Baah would be out for the entire 2017 season - out of the MLS squad, at least (he could still play for NYRB II in USL or be loaned out to just about anywhere, but he can't play in MLS this year). This was a surprise to RBNY fans, but less so to the club. On the same day supporters were getting used to the idea that Baah wouldn't be back this year, head coach Jesse Marsch was telling MSG's Kristian Dyer that work was underway to identify and recruit a replacement:
That’s probably the one more piece that we need to supplement that position.