The San Jose Earthquakes' stunning collapse has reached a new nadir. A 5-1 demolition at home by Minnesota United — a team that had been winless in nine matches and hadn't scored more than one goal since May 2 — has laid bare the extent of San Jose's freefall.

Two things are true, as head coach Bruce Arena acknowledged even during the good times: San Jose was never good enough to be a genuine Supporters' Shield challenger despite winning nine of their first 10 games, and the squad shouldn't be this bad now, either. But with just one win in their last 10, the Earthquakes have found a new low.

Where It's Going Wrong

Injuries could explain some of the early struggles, but Timo Werner and Niko Tsakiris are back. Heavy legs and a thin squad could account for some of the dip, but not to this degree. San Jose is getting shredded in transition and has become far too easy to play against.

The numbers are damning: since May 1, the Quakes are last in the league in goals conceded (27 in 11 games) and tied for last in goal difference (minus-13). New goalkeeper Angus Gunn has been a mess since debuting this summer, though reinforcements are reportedly on the way.

Löwen Incoming

San Jose is set to acquire midfielder Eduard Löwen from St. Louis City, as first reported by The Athletic. St. Louis will receive $425,000 in General Allocation Money plus another $500,000 in add-ons. Löwen will occupy a Designated Player spot for San Jose at least initially, though sources indicate that can be bought down in the future.

The move comes after St. Louis declined to discuss a long-term deal with Löwen, allowing his representation to seek opportunities elsewhere. San Jose will be a long-term home for the 29-year-old German midfielder, who joined St. Louis ahead of their debut 2023 season, making 99 appearances with six goals and nine assists that year as the expansion side exceeded expectations and topped the Western Conference.

Sounders Strike for Joveljic

A blockbuster deal also broke in the Western Conference, as the Seattle Sounders are set to acquire forward Dejan Joveljic from Sporting KC for a $6 million cash trade fee — the team's first significant transfer outlay since signing Pedro de la Vega for the 2024 campaign.

Joveljic, 27, was one of the very best goalscorers in MLS, starring for the LA Galaxy during their 2024 MLS Cup-winning run with 21 goals and eight assists in 33 games. He was sent to SKC in a $4 million cash trade after the season when the Galaxy couldn't make him a DP. SKC will lose their leading scorer but will convert the maximum $3 million of the transfer fee to allocation money, opening another DP spot while remaining active in the market despite already spending $18 million on winger Andre Luiz.

Crew Closing In on Santi Rodriguez

The Columbus Crew are in advanced talks to sign Uruguayan attacker Santi Rodriguez from Botafogo, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic. A deal has not yet been fully agreed, but the Crew are pushing hard. One complication: Botafogo still owes MLS side Atlanta United money for the 2023 transfer of Thiago Almada, among other logistical hurdles.

Rodriguez, 26, excelled for NYCFC in MLS before joining Botafogo in the winter of 2025. He registered 16 goals and six assists in his final MLS season and won the MLS Cup with NYCFC in 2021. He has played sparingly in Brazil this season, logging 939 minutes across 23 matches.