The New York Red Bulls, porous at the back over the last few weeks, have taken the first of what The North Jersey Herald's Ives Galarcep says could be a series of moves to shake up its "faltering defense" by trading left-back Todd Dunivant to Toronto FC in exchange for Kevin Goldthwaite. You'd think the move would be about freeing up cap room, but sources tell Galarcep the Bulls have agreed to pay about three-quarters of Dunivant's $99,750 salary, meaning they won't gain any cap space through the deal. Dunivant was the last of the players brought in by former Bulls coach Mo Johnston almost exactly a year ago.
Galarcep believes that Coach Bruce Arena is also getting ready to offload reserve defenders Taylor Graham and Tim Regan to create a more competitive environment among his defenders. Injuries as much as anything else have exposed the club's lack of depth at the back. The Bulls staff has looked at Mariano Fernandez, Chris Leitch and former national team defender Tony Sanneh as possible solutions.
Was Dunivant's trade a tactical decision? "Regarded as one of the best outside backs in the league," Galarcep says, "Dunivant has had trouble staying healthy throughout his five-year MLS career." Case in point: Dunivant only played half of the team's first 16 games due to injury. Goldthwaite, meanwhile, is considered a steal at $30,870 (of course the Bulls will still be paying Dunivant). The 24-year-old Goldthwaite played nine games for Toronto this season after being acquired from MLS champ Houston earlier this year, where he played 20 games in 2006.
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