The 2013 Colorado Rapids season was the club's eighteenth season of existence, and their eighteenth season in Major League Soccer, the top tier of the American and Canadian soccer pyramids.

The 2013 Colorado Rapids would see massive changes made to the team. All-time leading goal scorer Conor Casey was released and Omar Cummings would be traded during the offseason, the Forward duo combining for 89 goals in the Rapids' careers. The Midfield pairing of Jeff Larentowicz and long-time Captain Pablo Mastroeni would be broken up, as well. Larentowicz was traded in the offseason and Mastroeni was traded during the summer of 2013. With the majority of the 2010 MLS Champions team gone (only 5 players remaining on the squad), the team looked considerably different. Coach Oscar Pareja wanting a squad of younger, more athletic players. Colorado brought in US National Team Forward Edson Buddle, along with several South American players who had played for their National Teams. 2013 would also see Rapids' Homegrown Player, 19-year-old Shane O'Neill, become a valuable member of the US U-20 National Team leading up to and during the 2013 U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

The Colorado Rapids' offseason began with the release of 9 players in November. Forward Conor Casey, Midfielders Edu and Joseph Nane, Defenders Tyson Wahl, Hunter Freeman, and Luis Zapata, and Goalkeeper Ian Joyce all had their options declined. Tyrone Marshall and Scott Palguta's contracts expired and they were not re-signed. Midfielder Jamie Smith's contract also expired, however, he returned to the Rapids' preseason training camp and then was re-sign by Colorado.

The Rapids' added several players during the offseason via trade, including Forward Atiba Harris from Vancouver Whitecaps FC for an 2015-2016 International Roster Spot. Colorado also traded their 1st Round 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft pick to the LA Galaxy for US International Forward Edson Buddle. Later in December, Forward Omar Cummings was traded to the Houston Dynamo for Nathan Sturgis and allocation money. Cummings narrowly missed being reunited with fellow 2010 Cup Champion, Macoumba Kandji, who had been traded to Houston the previous year. Kandji refused a contract extension in order to play in Europe. At the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Colorado selected Eric Avila with the 6th pick of the 1st round in the 2nd stage.

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