[MLS 2013 COUNTDOWN] The New York Red Bulls continued the process of rebuilding their team with the acquisition of versatile midfielder Eric Alexander from the Portland Timbers in exchange for allocation money. Just what the Timbers were planning on using the allocation money for immediately became amatter of speculation as owner Merritt Paulson tweeted that more player news would be coming this week.

Alexander was excellent in his rookie season with FC Dallas in 2010 and earned a cap for the USA in 2011. He made 24 appearances and recorded a team and career-high six assists in 2012, hissecond season with the Timbers after being traded for Jeremy Hall midway through the 2011 season.

“Eric is a young midfielder who has earneda large amount of experience during his three years in Major League Soccer,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh. “He can play a numberof roles for us and we are pleased that he has joined the Red Bulls.”

While the attention centered around former French international MikaelSilvestre, who has been training with the Timbers, the 35-year-old center back did not travel with the team back to Portland following their camp in Arizona.

“We’ll be looking atour options and looking at his situation and making a decision shortly,” Portland coach Caleb Porter told Geoffrey C. Arnold of the Oregonian. “I’m not sure we’redone with him. We’ll be making a decision in the next couple of days.”

MLS PRESEASON RESULTS:
Monday, Feb. 11
Atlante U-20s 0 FC Dallas 3 (Cooper,Michel, Top).

NEW ENGLAND. The New England Revolution signed forward Chad Barrett and defender Bilal Duckett. Barrett, 27, has played seven seasons in MLS and has scored 42 goals and added 27 assists in 192 career appearances with Chicago (2005-08), Toronto(2008-2010) and LA (2011-12). Most recently, he was on loan from the Galaxy to Valerenga of Norway’s Tippeligaen through the end of their 2012 season. Duckett, 24, spent the 2012 season with theHarrisburg City Islanders of USL PRO after playing one season with the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS.

TORONTO FC. StefanFrei‘s bad luck continued as he will need surgery on Tuesday after suffering a broken nose in a collision with Crew striker Ryan Finley during Saturday’sgame at the Disney Pro Soccer Classic. He did not play a game in 2012 after he suffered a fractured left fibula and torn ankle ligaments. Joe Bendik, picked up from the Portland Timbers, will be ingoal for Wednesday’s game against Orlando City.

MLS PRESEASON SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, Feb. 12
Chivas USA vs. Los Angeles Blues at Home Dept Center in Carson, Calif.
Houston Dynamo vs. Dynamo Academy at HoustonAmateur Sports Park in Houston
Ventura County Fusion vs. San Jose at Oxnard College inOxnard, Calif.

Wednesday, Feb. 13
Los Angeles vs. UCLA at Home Dept Center in Carson, Calif.
*New England vs. Seattle (Desert Diamond Cup) at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz.
*New York vs. Real Salt Lake (Desert Diamond Cup) at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz. *Orlando City vs, Toronto FC (Disney Pro Soccer Classic) at ESPN Wide Worldof Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
*Philadelphia vs. Columbus(Disney Pro Soccer Classic) at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
*Sporting KC vs. D.C.United (Disney Pro Soccer Classic) at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
*Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Montreal (Disney Pro Soccer Classic) at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
*Streamed on mlssoccer.com

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