Are the Red Bulls going to make a play for DaMarcus Beasley?

The Washington Post's Steven Goff has been all over this DaMarcus Beasley-to-MLS thing, tweeting yesterday that a deal between the World Cup veteran and MLS was set to be finalized this week, then today going on a Twitter rampage crossing teams off the list left and right.

Awaiting official word on @DaMarcusBeasley's MLS destination. Barring late change, it won't be CHI, RSL, DCU or Orlando.

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 22, 2014

Scratch NYCFC & New England from Beasley sweepstakes, as well ...

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 22, 2014

High price tag for Beasley, 32-yr-old LB/LMF. Curious to see how many MLS clubs are serious. No Canadian sides, I'm told

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 22, 2014

So after removing the Chicago Fire, Real Salt Lake, D.C. United, Orlando City, NYCFC, the New England Revolution, Toronto FC, the Montreal Impact and the Vancouver Whitecaps, you're left with 12 teams, Red Bulls included.

But you have to bump Chivas USA, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, Sporting Kansas City and Portland Timbers, bringing that number down to six if you suppose he's coming over as a designated player, leaving the Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Philadelphia Union, San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo and the Red Bulls.

But the Rapids, Dynamo and Earthquakes can be loth to spend money and the Crew won't be going after Beasley, which leaves the Red Bulls and the Union.

The Red Bulls' salary cap situation is well-documented, but after dumping Jonny Steele, they cut out $129,996 in salary, which isn't far from the half-year cap hit of $193,750.

Not to mention, the Red Bulls need help on the left. While Beasley, who spent the last three years with Puebla in Mexico after stints with Manchester City, Rangers and Hannover 96, featured as a left back for U.S. boss Jurgen Klinsmann in Brazil, he's really more of a winger.

All that would be why we haven't heard anything about Martin Woods, since last week, when he was the last trialist left in camp. It's also worth noting, Petke had promised there'd be news on a new player last week.

Of course, we Red Bulls fans are used to being linked to players like Xavi and Xabi Alonso, not a player like Beasley, who hardly registers a shrug on the "worldwide name recognition" scale. But Beasley could pique the interest of the more casual fan, who was drawn into the United States' World Cup campaign of which he was a key cog. And if you want to get all tin foil hat, maybe the Red Bulls make this signing knowing there could be changes to the designated player rule in next year's new CBA (which will almost certainly mean big changes for MLS).

We're a little far out there now, but it's all something to ponder with a move to (supposedly) be made this week.