Another player who found himself struggling for minutes with the Montreal Impact is on the move.
Forward Justin Braun was traded to his hometown Real Salt Lake in exchange for a conditional 2014 draft pick Wednesday, getting himself out of a situation that had become increasingly dire north of the border. Braun, who started the season as the club's starting striker, fell down the depth chart behind Bernardo Corradi, Sanna Nyassi and rookie Andrew Wenger. When the club brought in Designated Player Marco Di Vaio, that lessened his chances of playing even more.
In his time on the field this season, Braun failed to score a goal and had one assist in 12 games (five starts). He tallied 24 goals in four seasons with Chivas USA, including 17 over the last two years and returns to his native city where he will provide quality depth behind entrenched starters Alvaro Saborio and Fabian Espindola.
Braun joins the likes of Michael Fucito, who was sent to the Portland Timbers, as productive forwards who were not being able to crack Jesse Marsch's lineup on a consistent basis.
Here are a few more items from around the league:
PLATA LOANED BACK TO QUITO
The Joao Plata saga in Toronto has finally been resolved, and the diminutive attacker is on his way back to Ecuador.
Plata was loaned to LDU Quito for the next six months, and he is expected to return to the club for the start of next season, according to a TFC release. Plata was initially loaned to MLS and TFC from Quito before signing a permanent, multi-year deal with Toronto in January.
One of the more dynamic players for Toronto who has scored important goals, specifically in CONCACAF Champions League play, Plata had fallen out of favor, publicly expressed that he was going to be returning to Quito before any deal was done and even returned to Ecuador before the loan was sealed, according to reports from Toronto. He did not score in league play for TFC this season but had six goals in the 2011-2012 CCL, which tied for second-most in the tournament.
PORTLAND RECALLS DIKE, LOANS JEAN-BAPTISTE
The Portland Timbers have swapped players on loan with the L.A. Blues, recalling striker Bright Dike and sending rookie centerback Andrew Jean-Baptiste there on loan for the remainder of the season.
Dike scored six goals and had two assists in 10 games with the USL Pro side. Jean-Baptiste played well as a fill-in centerback during an injury crisis earlier in the season, even scoring a goal in his debut, but he has not seen playing time since April 7.
MONTREAL SIGNS YOUNG DEFENDER
The Impact have made a habit of opting for older, Italian veterans to add to the roster, but the club injected some youth with the signing of 21-year-old Swiss defender Dennis Iapichino after a trial period last month.
Iapichino comes from the FC Lugano, where he teamed with current Impact midfielder Felipe. He started his career in the FC Basel youth system in 2008.
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What do you think about RSL acquiring Braun? What's your take on the Plata situation in Toronto? Think Dike can contribute on Portland's first team? What do you think of how the Impact have built their roster?
Share your thoughts below.