2016 MLS Season Preview: Toronto FC

With the MLS season set to begin on Sunday, theScore runs down everything you need to know about each team heading into the 2016 campaign. Here, we take a look at Toronto FC.

Toronto FC are, once again, the champions of the MLS offseason. The Reds posted 15 wins and 15 losses last season, scoring 58 goals and conceding 58 as well. This leads to something of a predicament - did it really take over $20 million per year in players just to get Toronto FC to bat .500?

Toronto's brass needed to address that issue with some back-line reinforcements. General manager Tim Bezbatchenko did that and more, acquiring four MLS All-Stars in goalkeeper Clint Irwin, defenders Steven Beitashour and Drew Moor and Canadian midfielder Will Johnson.

That is, by far, the best haul of talent acquired from this window but, as usual, injuries will be a concern for the Reds, as will international absences caused by the Copa America Centenario and Euro 2016. U.S. captain Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore are expected to play on Jurgen Klinsmann's side this summer while Sebastian Giovinco could sneak his way onto the Italian national team, too.

So, while Toronto FC boasts one of the best squads "on paper," head coach Greg Vanney might find himself shorthanded too many times this season.

2015 season

Regular season: 6th in Eastern Conference

Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference Knockout Round to Montreal Impact.

Nuts and Bolts

• Head coach: Greg Vanney
• Stadium: BMO Field
• Season opener: Sunday, March 6: New York Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC (Red Bull Arena) - 1:30 p.m. ET.

Key Arrivals

• Will Johnson (traded from Portland Timbers)
• Drew Moor (free agent)
• Clint Irwin (traded from Colorado Rapids)
• Steven Beitashour (traded from Vancouver Whitecaps)
• Tsubasa Endoh (SuperDraft)

Key Departures

• Joe Bendik (traded to Orlando City)
• Chris Konopka (option declined)
• Jackson (option declined)
• Robbie Findley (out of contract)
• Ahmed Kantari (waived)
• Herculez Gomez (waived)
• Collen Warner (traded to Houston Dynamo)

Player to Watch

What can we say about Sebastian Giovinco that hasn't already been said? The 2015 Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner also walked away with the Newcomer of the Year award, guided Toronto FC to its first-ever playoff appearance, broke the league's combined goals-assists record (38) and put up a highlight reel of goals and skills of an unparalleled nature in club history.

The signing of Giovinco is exactly what MLS needed, and exposed exactly how far MLS still has to go. That a bench player at Juventus can come into the league in the prime of his career and dominate in the way Giovinco did shows a bit of disparity, if nothing else.

Still, week-in and week-out, there was no player more entertaining in MLS than the Atomic Ant.

Keep an eye on: Tsubasa Endoh and Will Johnson

Projected Starting XI

Season in a Sentence

Toronto FC qualified for the 2015 playoffs, and with it, eight years of bad history was suddenly forgotten. If that's fair, then it's also fair to demand a little more from the Reds this season. Toronto FC needs to challenge for the MLS Cup. With the squad it has built, that should be the club's only goal. Anything less isn't good enough anymore.