The Galaxy rarely have been averse to spending money. They’re the only team in MLS to rank among the top three in payroll in each of the last six seasons, topped by a franchise-record $25 million last year.
But that has bought the team a losing record and just two postseason appearances since 2016, which makes this winter’s shopping spree a bit of a gamble. First-year general manager Will Kuntz spent more than $20 million in transfer fees for just three players, an investment that would make anything short of a long playoff run a waste of money.
It also turns up the heat on coach Greg Vanney, who returned to the Galaxy three years ago tasked with restoring the tradition and culture that produced five MLS champions. Instead, he enters the final year of his contract Sunday against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami with a 35-38-29 record.
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“This year we no longer have excuses,” said midfielder Riqui Puig, who tied for the team lead with seven goals last season. “We have to produce our best football. It’s a very important year for us, for the players, for the club and for the coach.”
Which is why Kuntz, before his December promotion to general manager was announced, went to team owner Philip Anschutz and asked for a blank check this winter. In exchange, Kuntz said he wouldn’t ask for the same thing next year.
“My basic message was, I’m not asking you to spend any more year over year than you’ve been spending, I just think that we can spend it a little bit differently,” Kuntz said. “You don’t want to be in a position where you are making significant investments in players and then looking to get out of them in a year or two. I’m not doing my job, our team’s not doing our job if that’s the case.”
That has been an issue in the past. In Vanney’s first season the Galaxy brought in 11 players from outside the organization. None of them are with the team three years later. To avoid making that mistake again, Kuntz and the soccer operations staff of Michael Stephens, Gordon Kljestan and Joe Jesseau put together profiles of as many as seven players for each…