Chris Wingert returns to Real Salt Lake

Update: Real Salt Lake is still actively pursuing a center back option, according to RSL Communications.

Real Salt Lake is bringing back Chris Wingert for 2016 after claiming him off waivers, the club announced today.

There's no initial word on whether Wingert is being signed with an eye toward filling the center back role that RSL general manger Craig Waibel has been looking to sign, but initial indications would seem that's the case.

Wingert was taken by Jason Kreis and New York City FC in the run-up to the 2015 offseason during the MLS Expansion Draft, but NYCFC placed him on waivers last week, from which RSL claimed him.

Wingert rejoins Real Salt Lake with 204 MLS regular season appearances at the club under his belt — and nearly 300 overall, which he'd reach with only four MLS appearances in 2016.

It's difficult at this point to judge whether this means that every available center back option the club pursued simply fell through, but it certainly looks like Wingert is coming back to fill that role.

It is worth noting that the majority of his time at New York City FC was spent playing as a center back, and he did passably well — and with RSL looking for a cerebral center back, it looks the pieces just sort of fit.