The narrative heading into this season was clear: MLS was no longer going to be content to be a retirement league.

After years, it seemed like the teams were catching on. The way to build a successful franchise was not to sign “big names” and hope that the crowds would show up. The way to build a successful franchise was to win.

If you haven’t checked in on this league in a while, you should know that MLS has changed. Teams are getting younger. Designated player spots are not being used on the superstars of years past and instead are going to promising international players entering their primes. Creative, attacking sides are springing up around the league. Goals are up. The quality of soccer is improving.

And on Monday night it was reported that Chicago Fire had acquired Manchester United's Bastian Schweinsteiger, the 32-year-old German midfielder who hasn’t played for Manchester United with any regularity in two years and has retired from the German national team. A player who plays the same position as the two best Fire players – Dax McCarty and Juninho – who are three and four years younger than he is, respectively.

The question is clear: What are the Fire doing?