Photo by Eric Bolte/USA TODAY Sports

By AARON CRANFORD

The Vancouver Whitecaps’ attack has looked much improved since the start of 2014, and one of the key contributors to that improvement is about to be around for much longer.

Playmaker Pedro Morales and the Whitecaps agreed to a multi-year contract extension on Tuesday to keep the Designated Player in Vancouver long term.

“My family and I are extremely happy in Vancouver and I am fully committed to this club,” Morales told the Whitecaps’ website. “From Carl Robinson, to my teammates, to all the staff, and of course the fans, this is a first-class organization and I’m so proud to be a part of it. I will continue to work hard to help Whitecaps FC achieve success.”

Morales currently has five goals and four assists in 19 MLS appearances, and he has so far captained the Whitecaps to a second place position on the tough Western Conference table in 2015.

Moving across the pond from Malaga CF in La Liga on a free transfer, he was named SBI MLS Newcomer of the Year in 2014, scoring 10 goals and providing 12 assists in 34 games.

Here are some more news items from around MLS this Tuesday:

DYNAMO SIGN HOMEGROWN CHRISTIAN LUCATERO

Another U.S. youth national team player has made the jump to the professional ranks.

Christian Lucatero signed with the Houston Dynamo Tuesday, but he’ll only be able to join the roster starting in January. He will train with the first team until then.

The 18-year-old midfielder is just the seventh player from the team’s academy to earn a contract with the MLS side.

“It means everything to me to sign a contract with the Houston Dynamo,” Lucatero told the team’s website. “I would like to thank (Dynamo director of youth development) James Clarkson for his part in my development and the club for this great opportunity.

“I look forward to working hard with the first team the rest of this season to prepare for my first preseason next year. My goal is to show my hometown that I can contribute to the Dynamo.”

The Mexico Under-18 national team and the U.S. youth national team have  had their eye on Lucatero, with the U.S. last calling in the dynamic midfielder during the Bosnia and Herzegovina camp in April.

REPORT: ORLANDO CITY DROPPED ST. LEDGER FOR MISSING FLIGHT, TRAINING

Sean St. Ledger was released by Orlando City SC on Aug. 1, but Tuesday, it was made known why.

Orlando City dropped the defender for “a serious breach of club policy,” which turns out to be missing the team flight and subsequently missing training in the following days.

He and forward Martin Paterson did not follow the team back to Florida following its match with New York City FC on July 26, according to the Orlando Sentinel, and both players were unreachable in the days following the flight.

Paterson is no longer with Orlando City, favoring a move back to the U.K., and St. Ledger is now with the Colorado Rapids after signing off waivers on Aug. 7.

REAL SALT LAKE PARTS WAYS WITH PRESIDENT BILL MANNING

Real Salt Lake’s season isn’t quite panning out to be the usual, and Tuesday, a major shakeup was made in the front office.

Owner Dell Loy Hansen and the team mutually parted ways with now former president Bill Manning, and Hansen will now address the team’s future in the current week to determine the next step for the franchise.

“Bill has obviously done an outstanding job building this club from its infancy, and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” Hansen said on RSL’s website.

RSL currently sits in ninth in the Western Conference, six points behind the Seattle Sounders in sixth. And with 2015 season winding down and the possibility of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007 on the horizon, Hansen thought it was time to head in a different direction.

“As we move into the second decade of our existence, our growing organization requires a different structure,” he said of the decision. “As a result, several senior executives within our company will assume greater roles across various departments, with a focus on integration and expanding our ability to capture championships, on and off the field.”

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What do you think about Morales’ extension? How long do you see it taking before Lucatero joins the Dynamo first team? Think St. Ledger’s actions warranted his release?

Share your thoughts below.