Good morning all. I’m making my way to the airport to head back home and wanted to check in with some of the latest info I’ve gathered here in Toronto.
The trade between Chicago and Toronto FC for the rights to Brian McBride does involve Chad Barrett. A source with knowledge of the deal confirmed to SBI that the package I discussed last night is, in fact, what Toronto will receive. TFC will acquire Barrett, a first-round pick and allocation money in exchange for the allocation spot Chicago will now use to acquire McBride.
The deal doesn’t end there.
Chad Barrett is in the final year of his contract so TFC had some incentives included in the trade that will mean Chicago must give up something more if Barrett doesn’t re-sign with MLS in 2009.
So why did TFC do the deal? Apparently Danny Dichio’s concussion is worse than first believed and the rest of his season could be in jeopardy. With Jeff Cunningham buried in the basement of the TFC doghouse, Toronto was desperate to add a veteran forward. The club is still searching for an international forward but the hope is that Barrett will be able to step in and start while the club searches for a second striker.
As for suggestions that MLS commissioner Don Garber forced Toronto to make the deal, that is not the impression I am getting. It really came down to Toronto’s forward situation becoming so dire that it had to act for fear of hurting its own chances of securing a playoff spot. Say all you want about Chad Barrett, but he has scored goals in MLS and can produce if given chances. Toronto’s midfield is good enough to produce chances. It just hasn’t had anyone to finish them lately.
As for Kenny Cooper and Juan Toja’s impending moves to Europe, there was considerable buzz at BMO Field last night regarding the moves, with some sources saying both were done. Both players flat denied that deals were done, but players aren’t always the first to know when deals are complete so we should find out pretty soon whether FC Dallas actually sells two of its best players, which would effectively pull the plug on this season.
What do you think of the Chicago-Toronto FC trade? Did TFC get enough? Did Chicago give up too much?
Share your thoughts on these stories, and any other developing stories, in the comments section below.
I think Garber forced TFC to accept the trade. They had been negotiating for a while trying to get a good deal, but the MLS wanted it so that it could be announced at the All-Star game.
@Posted by:Andrew | July 25, 2008 at 08:27 PM
That team would be called Houston “dear god we need a forward, any forward” Dynamo.
@Posted by:jj | July 25, 2008 at 11:03 PM
did you not watch his late season run with Fulham last season? There is a reason they wanted to keep him ya know.
Get used to seeing a lot more of ths:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzbX3L8Wpm0
picks, allocation money and the senior international spot that Chicago is also supposedly giving up (according to FSC) would have been more than enough for TFC to get a quality player this year. Barrett is just a bonus if he works out.
It’s basically the deal everyone but Mo “We want Mapp, Rolfe, Barrett and Blanco for a 37 year old” Johnston knew was going to happen.
@Posted by:Hincha Tim | July 25, 2008 at 10:32 AM
If it was DP money this entire drama would have been completely unnecessary. I’m guessing it’ll be a Schelotto type of deal. Max MLS salary plus the part/all of the allocation money they got from RBNY for Osorio to bump it up to the $600k+ zone.
It was said on FSC that, besides Barret, money and draft pick, Toronto also get an additional International roster spot. They will use this to get an International forward and will not have to cut a current International player.
I actually think TFC got a very good deal here. McBride is washed up
Hey Ives, This is off topic a little but I was wondering if you know who these teams are that are interested in Jeff Cunningham and what they might be offering. Would this move primarily be to unload Cunningham’s salary or does Toronto definitely want something back in a trade?
Toronto fans think they fleeced Chicago for taking Barrett off their hands?
Thats laughable. I woulda been willing to give him for free. Come back after three games and tell me how you like him.
Plus the last pick of the first round has a higher percentage of ending up in the USL than being a good player.
1. Maybe the fire will go on a run and win MLS Cup. What is more likely is:
–as mediocre a finisher as Barrett is, they’ll miss him
–they won’t get McBride back for a very long time (especially if the US can pull a miracle and advance)
–McBride has a history of injuries
–other teams in the East could pull away while the fire is waiting for McBride to return. I really respect McBride and am glad he’s going to finish his career back in his hometown. But 2 years ago that is what people were saying about Reyna as well. McBride and Reyna have very similar health records. Granted Reyna signed as a DP and mcBride evidently isn’t. But those Fire fans who are assuming they just got a huge addition could be crying in their brats come post-Olympics.
2. For TFC, getting Barrett is pretty weak. But they were never going to get Mapp or Rolfe. More importantly, TFC needs to acquire a forward. that forward isn’t Barrett. But as soon as TFC uses major allocation money on a foreign forward they no longer are first in line for McBride. Which means they nada, zippo. So the idea of holding the Fire hostage, as attractive as it seemed to some Red Bull and TFC fans, ultimately wasn’t tenable (unless TFC was prepared to not use their allocation that was first in line which basically means they’re not going to upgrade their forwards).
As it is, TFC gets someone they’ll start right now (Barrett), can get rid of Cunningham as soon as they acquire someone else, and can acquire foreign forward help while still getting a first round pick and probably more if Barrett leaves.
3. The Dichio news is big news. Sorry to hear any player get hurt badly. Head injuries especially (shades of Ramos, Gros, Paule).
4. The FCD fire-sale, what a mess. At one point, that was a team with a lot of talent, a lot of young talent and now they look like they’re blowing everything up and starting over. If Hyndman was the wrong decision (and I agree with Ives on that point) than things are going to be very ugly in Frisco-burg for a couple of years.
All I have to say is what I’ve already said before…FINALLY.
I don’t know what Chicago was waiting for in giving up Barrett. He’s much, much younger but the kid doesn’t have much of a future anyway. Kind of harsh. And could be wrong. But that’s where it looks like it’s heading.
I’m a TFC fan and gotta say Fire fans should be pretty stoked that this was the deal. If our forward situation wasn’t what it is, there is no doubt we would have pushed for one of your midfielders. Everyone’s going on about McBride’s age – who cares – you now have 2 great veterans on your club with heaps of experience – that is priceless. Hats off and good luck.
giggsylou – hows it fair?? b/c TFC isnt LOSING anything, they are only gaining…
TFC wasnt getting BMB, they held the allocation spot for returning players…. sseeing as noone else worth while was returning they wouldve just lost the spot and got nothing
Bill – BMB has stated it was chicago or retirement….
the “give up” BMB was about the allocation spot not the player himself
How is Barrett, draft pick, and cash for BMB fair? TFC shldve demanded Rolfe. Chicago stole this one.
For those who mention TFC having to “give up” McBride, I was under the impression that, from McBride’s perspective, it was the Fire or no MLS and that part of his incentive was to return home and settle down a bit. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought there was no way TFC or anyone else was going to get him, if not Chicago.
Fumar – i said the same thing about all the praise Mo is getting… everyone was like “2 starters, d.picks, allocation, and the title to your stadium”….
but when i said “1 player, allocation or $$, and d.pick(s)” they said i was crazy and the deal would be trash…
It’s a good deal for Toronto. They had nothing before, McBride wasn’t coming here anyway, and now we have someone to play. The real key will be whether McBride can play in the TFC system like Dichio did – hold the ball up long enough to let the midfielders, Guavara, run into the box – that’s what Cunningham and others just can’t do for us at the moment. Welcome to Toronto, Chad
TFC midfield is not better than our midfield. Barrett get 2 to 3 chances a game and usually doesnt convert any of them. So I hope he turns it around for TFC but him getting the boot from us is gonna do nothing but hurt what little confidence he had left.
djking – he’s right on schedule if you are a Fire fan. If he was still at Craven cottage he’d have had his rest and would be in preseason training. The Olympics will do that for him and you’ll ahve a refreshed and match fit BMB for the stretch run. if this would have got done earlier he might be burnt out by the end of the season. I’m worried about this match fitness in Bejing…
I just hope we get this one done before the Olympics get under way. McBride is ill prepared to play such a tight schedule at this point and I can see him easily being out for the rest of the season
This is win-win for the Fire and the Fire. Not only do they get a proven finisher, they lose a proven shanker. Addition by addition and addition by subtraction. It would be great to keep Barrett around until he finds his form, but because Hamlett won’t sit him, he was struggling on the field instead of in a reserve game. This takes Hamlett of the Chad Barrett crack pipe cold turkey. The best possible solution for the Fire.
Now let’s go win the Supporters Shield and the MLS Cup and take some more TFC value out of this deal.
From Blancos’ foot to McBrides’ head. Fire should tear it up.
Not a fair trade.
Stupid system and should be abolished now. McBride is 36 and who knows what he has left? The fire paid too much and Barrett, despite awful misses, will do well in toronto if not played up top alone. draft picks and money just make the trade more unbalanced.If Mcbride doesn’t resign after 09 does Toronto pay the fire? of course not.
I love all the praise slung at MO. A few weeks ago, a Barrett plus money or draft pick for McBride deal was suggested on this site and everyone was up in arms about getting equal value. I seem to recall thing like, “anything less than Rolfe, Mapp, and Conde is crap.” At the very least TFC fans wanted two starter for McBride.
Fire fans, being the more rational types, explained that TFC held to bargaining chips. McBride wasn’t going to play in Toronto. If they knew what was good for them they would take something instead of nothing.
Now it looks like MO took something (a inconsistent forward and a pick, as predicted) instead of nothing and TFC is praising the big MO as a genius.
I just hope Chad is well recieved up there, even after he starts shanking clear goals. Good Luck TFC!
CHICAGO will play TORONTO in the playoffs and Barrett will score a brace to knock them out..you heard it here first.
That’s a good deal for Toronto. They get a forward now, which is what they needed. They get allocation money to help them go out and get another forward, which definitely helps. And the kicker is the 1st round draft pick (assuming it’s for next year).
Next year O’Brian White, a Canadian forward, will likely go high in the draft if not #1. Mo is clearly lining up 2 shots to get him in the first round or the possibility of trading for the #1 pick to take him there.
Trader Mo, at it again.