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Chivas USA land Chavez, Finley, Moore joins TFC amid flurry of MLS deals

Marvin Chavez

By IVES GALARCEP

Chivas USA needed to shake up their squad and boost an attack that has become overly-reliant on Erick Torres while both the Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC needed to address depth needs at specific positions. The result was a flurry of deals that sent four MLS players heading in different directions in trades finalized on Thursday.

Chivas USA dealt English forward Luke Moore to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for disgruntled Honduran winger Marvin Chavez. The Rapids then shipped Moore to Toronto FC for seldom-used young American centerback Gale Agbossoumonde.

Chivas USA completed the flurry of deals by acquiring former 2013 MLS first-round pick Ryan Finley from the Columbus Crew for a 2016 MLS draft pick.

The deals help all four teams, as the Goats add a pair of promising attacking players, while the Rapids add some needed depth at centerback. TFC brings in some forward depth, which had been an issue since losing Bright Dike to a long-term knee injury, while the Crew frees up cap space by dealing away Finley, who wasn’t in the Crew’s plans.

Chavez had been seldom used by the Rapids since joining from San Jose in the off-season, a fact that didn’t keep him from being named to the Honduran World Cup squad. The quick winger should help Chivas USA’s attack have more options on the flanks.

Moore heads to TFC after a lackluster time at Chivas USA. The English striker never seemed to settle in with Wilmer Cabrera’s side, but now he joins up with TFC just as the club stands poised to lose Jermain Defoe to the World Cup.

Agbossoumonde joins a Rapids team that has shown a willingness to play young players, something that will be sweet music to the former U.S. youth national team standout, who has struggled for playing time since joining TFC.

Finley leaves the Crew having provided little return on the first-round pick the team spent on him in 2013. He spent time this year playing for USL Pro side Dayton Dutch Lions, but the Crew will be happy to unload his six-figure salary given the fact he wasn’t in their squad rotation. That said, the change of scenery could offer Finley a chance at reviving his career on a team with limited attacking options.

What do you think of the trades? Which team do you think made out the best? Which player do you see thriving with his new club?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I didn’t realize Finley was getting paid as much! he might have a future,but I wasn’t too impressed. He has a Will Bruin type of game but he’s just not.

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