January 15, 2011 MLS--Practicality Triumphs In Barrett Trade (from TorontoFC.ca)

Practicality Triumphs In Barrett Trade
Asif Hossain
TorontoFC.ca
January 15, 2011

Trading Chad Barrett to Los Angeles has Toronto FC supporters divided but my bet is that pragmatic reasons will outweigh sentimentality in the end.

Over two thousand participants were on the TorontoFC.ca live MLS SuperDraft blog on Thursday when the Barrett trade was announced. An online poll among them showed roughly 53% of readers thought it was a good move.

Discussing it with executives of other MLS clubs on Thursday evening, one suggested if respondents look closely at Barrett’s salary and what it means to the team, that poll may swing to 80%-90% in favour.

Speaking on the trade, Toronto’s director of player development, Paul Mariner, was unequivocal in saying that the move was made to free up space in Major League Soccer’s limited salary cap. Barrett is reported to be making more the $300,000 in 2011.

Barrett had many great moments in a Toronto shirt and his determination and hunger on the pitch earned a lot of praise. But even if Barrett becomes a prolific goal scorer in Carson – something that eluded him at BMO Field for nearly three seasons – this is still a good move for two reasons.

First, practicality has triumphed. With two players already taking up nearly a third of the team’s $2.5 million cap space, keeping Barrett meant Toronto would be hamstrung to find quality depth for the long MLS season where travel times and physical play takes its toll on bodies. Head coach and technical director Aron Winter believes he can get as many as four new players in place of Barrett. Toronto definitely needs new talent to fill out the first and reserve teams with training camp looming.

The second reason why it’s a good trade is that it signals a sense of ruthlessness in the new management team. They are boldly cutting inefficiencies. The Barrett trade coupled with a move to ship backup goalkeeper Jon Conway to Chicago on draft day allowed TFC to free up a good chunk of salary space with just two phone calls. If this works out, Toronto City Hall might want to give these managers a call next year. 

The obvious next question is who will replace Barrett up front?  Whoever that person (or persons) may be, Toronto has some funds to work with in finding replacements that fit TFC's new system. MLS squads are bigger this year with the return of the Reserve League and every little bit saved has to go a long way.  

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