By DAN KARELL
Reeling from recent injuries to their backline, Real Salt Lake addressed one of their most pressing needs on Wednesday.
RSL acquired centerback Brandon McDonald in a trade with D.C. United in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and a conditional draft selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. The 27-year-old McDonald returns to the Western Conference for the first time since 2011, when D.C. United acquired him from the San Jose Earthquakes.
The injury bug has seemed to bite RSL’s centerbacks this season, with Carlos Salcedo the most recent victim. Salcedo had surgery to remove his gall bladder following the 3-0 defeat to Dallas last Saturday. Other centerbacks Chris Schuler and Kwame Watson-Siriboe are on the sidelines due to injury, with Watson-Siriboe set to miss the rest of the season.
With McDonald, RSL picks up much needed depth while D.C. United gets rid of a player who didn’t look to be in head coach Ben Olsen’s plans. McDonald hadn’t seen time in any of D.C. United’s last four games, with Olsen preferring Ethan White to play in one of the centerback positions.
In his D.C. United career, McDonald has played in 63 games, scoring three goals and adding five assists in MLS play.
McDonald will be eligible to make his RSL debut this Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium against Sporting Kansas City. RSL moved Rich Balchan to the disabled list to make room for McDonald on the roster.
What do you think of this move? Do you believe D.C. United received fair value in return? Do you see McDonald helping RSL in the second half of the season?
Share your thoughts below.