MLS preseason is in full swing, and with it comes a fresh wave of questions around the league — from transfer ideas that won’t go away to coaching calls that could define 2026. In the latest edition of The Rondo, one of the biggest talking points is whether Toronto FC should make a serious move for USMNT striker Josh Sargent.
Sargent has become the kind of name that instantly sparks debate: a proven No. 9 at international level, still entering his prime, and a player who would bring a clear identity to any attacking line. That is exactly what Toronto have been searching for as they look to reset their roster and build a team that can compete again in the Eastern Conference.
In that discussion, the idea is simple — would Sargent make Toronto better, and would the move make sense for the player? The case for Toronto is obvious: a reliable striker changes everything in MLS, especially for a club that has struggled to turn possession into goals consistently. For Sargent, the question is about timing, ambition and the kind of platform he wants heading into the next major international cycle.
The Rondo also looks beyond Toronto and Sargent, turning to the wider MLS picture as preseason ramps up. With new faces on sidelines across the league, the panel weighs which club made the best coaching hire this winter — a decision that can shape a team far more than one signing ever could.
And, as always during an MLS offseason, the free-agency market leaves a few clubs wondering what might have been. The Rondo highlights the biggest miss in that process — the player a team let slip when there was a clear chance to act.
With preseason matches underway and rosters still taking shape, these questions will start getting answered soon enough. But for now, Sargent to Toronto remains one of the most intriguing “what ifs” of the early MLS calendar.
