Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By IVES GALARCEP
The New York Red Bulls have too many forwards on their roster at the moment, which made it seem unlikely that the team would have an interest in bringing back seldom-used French forward Sebastien LeToux. Apparently that hasn’t stopped the Red Bulls from offering LeToux to a new contract.
The Red Bulls have offered LeToux a new deal, sources with knowledge of the deal told SBI on Thursday. The move doesn’t mean LeToux will be wearing a Red Bull uniform in 2013. According to sources, the Red Bulls are planning to trade LeToux if and when he agrees to the offer, with his destination still yet to be identified.
SBI has confirmed that New York made LeToux the Bona Fide offer necessary to retain his rights within MLS. Sources tell SBI that LeToux has already signed the offer, but LeToux’s agent, Stefani Miglioranzi, has told SBI that, while New York has made a Bona Fide offer to LeToux, no agreement has been reached yet between LeToux and the Red Bulls yet.
The Philadelphia Union are believed to be very interested in bringing back LeToux, the team’s leading scorer in its first two seasons, but sources tell SBI that there is no deal in place between the Union and Red Bulls at the moment. That said, Philadelphia still seems like the most likely destination for LeToux, who has made no secret of how much he enjoyed playing for the Union.
The likelihood of a LeToux trade could allow the Red Bulls to position themselves to hold on to Kenny Cooper, depending on what the team can acquire for his services. Allocation money would help help the team pay off part of Cooper’s big 2013 salary cap number. The Red Bulls are listening to offers for Cooper, but are still not close to making a deal.
The Red Bulls acquired LeToux from Vancouver in exchange for Dane Richards and allocation money last summer. LeToux played 14 regular season games for New York, scoring one goal and added one assist.
There are no details yet on the offer made to LeToux, but it is believed to be in the $250,000 a year range.
Red Bulls officials would not comment on the move when contacted by SBI.
What do you think of this development? Where would you like to see LeToux wind up? What do you think is a fair trade offer for LeToux’s services? Think a return to Philadelphia is inevitable?
Share your thoughts below.