Colorado overhaul continues with trade for LaBrocca
The Colorado Rapids have been among the busier teams in MLS this off-season. After finishing the 2012 season 11-19-4 – just six points out of the playoffs but a long way down from winning the 2010 MLS Cup – they have undergone a facelift this off-season and that continued on Tuesday.
After jettisoning mainstays Conor Casey, Omar Cummings and Jeff Larentowicz during the winter, they made another addition on Tuesday, acquiring Nick LaBrocca from Chivas USA for Eric Avila, whom Colorado selected in the Re-Entry Draft in December.
LaBrocca had a career year in 2011 for Chivas USA, with eight goals and six assists. In his five other MLS seasons, including three with Colorado from 2007-2009, he had just seven goals and eight assists. In 2010, he played with Toronto FC before reaching success with Chivas USA.
The Rapids have now added LaBrocca, forward Edson Buddle and midfielder Nathan Sturgis via trade, winger Kevin Harbottle and defender Diego Calderon on the transfer market, forward DeShorn Brown and midfielder Dillon Powers in the SuperDraft and Homegrown midfielder Dillon Serna while keeping much of their defense intact.
Avila, meanwhile, eased into a starting role with Toronto FC in the last year and a half after three and a half seasons on the bench at FC Dallas. In his most extensive playing time since coming to MLS in 2008 as a second round pick in the SuperDraft, he had one goal and three assists in 24 matches, 16 of them starts.
He had his option declined by Toronto and was taken in the Stage 2 Draft of the Re-Entry Process, but didn’t reach a contract agreement in Colorado.
Both players will need to sign with their new clubs.
For more on the trade, click here.
After jettisoning mainstays Conor Casey, Omar Cummings and Jeff Larentowicz during the winter, they made another addition on Tuesday, acquiring Nick LaBrocca from Chivas USA for Eric Avila, whom Colorado selected in the Re-Entry Draft in December.
LaBrocca had a career year in 2011 for Chivas USA, with eight goals and six assists. In his five other MLS seasons, including three with Colorado from 2007-2009, he had just seven goals and eight assists. In 2010, he played with Toronto FC before reaching success with Chivas USA.
The Rapids have now added LaBrocca, forward Edson Buddle and midfielder Nathan Sturgis via trade, winger Kevin Harbottle and defender Diego Calderon on the transfer market, forward DeShorn Brown and midfielder Dillon Powers in the SuperDraft and Homegrown midfielder Dillon Serna while keeping much of their defense intact.
Avila, meanwhile, eased into a starting role with Toronto FC in the last year and a half after three and a half seasons on the bench at FC Dallas. In his most extensive playing time since coming to MLS in 2008 as a second round pick in the SuperDraft, he had one goal and three assists in 24 matches, 16 of them starts.
He had his option declined by Toronto and was taken in the Stage 2 Draft of the Re-Entry Process, but didn’t reach a contract agreement in Colorado.
Both players will need to sign with their new clubs.
For more on the trade, click here.
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