[MLS TRANSACTIONS] The lack of a consistent forward last season has prompted FC Dallas to acquire Panamanian striker Blas Perez, and the club has also added young Colombian defender Hernan Pertuz for the 2012 season.

Perez, 30, comes to MLS with several solid seasons in the Mexican league on his resume, including stints with UANL (eight goals) in 2008 and Pachuca (nine goals) in 2009. He scored 19 goals in 23 matches for Leon in the second division during the 2010-11 season. He’s been a member of the Panamanian national team for the past decade and has scored 22 goals for his country.

 “Blas is a player we always had on our radar,” FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said in a press release announcing the signing of the 6-foot-1 forward. “We are extremely happy we found a way to bring him to MLS to play for FC Dallas. Perez is a tremendous striker who continues to score goals everywhere he goes. We expect him to bring that finishing ability to FC Dallas.”

He will help re-fill a roster left depleted by the offseason departures of Maicon Santos and Maykel Galindo. A long-term injury to playmaker David Ferreira and inconsistent forward play laid a heavy scoring burden on midfielders Brek Shea and Marvin Chavez. Though they combined for 17 goals, utility man Jackson Goncalves was pressed into forward duty and finished third on the team with four goals.

Pertuz, a 22-year-old center back, joins FCD from Independiente Medellin in the Colombian league.

"Pertuz is a solid centerback that has captained the Colombian U-23 national team,” said Hyndman. “He is a player who will bring us the balance we need on our team and provide us with another strong defender in this position.”