Two teams on the outside of the playoff race looking in have swapped goalkeepers in an unusual mid-season deal.
The Montreal Impact sent goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts to the Portland Timbers for Troy Perkins in a straight-up trade that sees both veteran goalkeepers get a change of scenery. For both keepers, it will be their third MLS teams in as many seasons. Perkins returned from Norway to play for D.C. United in 2010 before being traded to the Timbers ahead of their expansion season. Ricketts starred for the Los Angeles Galaxy before being acquired by Montreal in the offseason.
Perkins is on the books for a smaller salary cap hit ($190,000 base salary compared to Ricketts' $250,000 according to MLS Players Union documents) and is four years younger than the 35-year-old Jamaican international, who was acquired by the Impact from the Galaxy in the offseason for a reported sum of $200,000 in allocation money, according to Fox Soccer.
From a statistical standpoint, Perkins and Ricketts have had similar seasons. Perkins has the edge in saves (63-59) and goals against average (1.61-1.64) and both have three clean sheets.
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