Today the Philadelphia Union have traded defender Shavar Thomas to the Kansas City Wizards in exchange for two second round MLS SuperDraft selections, one in 2011 and one in 2012, as well as allocation money.

Thomas returns to the Wizards where he played at between 2004-06.

Now this isn’t a major trade but I think it shows that Philadelphia is going to be making some moves in the coming weeks, possibly moving around some space to get a DP even. As for Kansas City getting another defender couldn’t hurt right now. Their defense definitely needs some help but I’m not sure Thomas is a big upgrade here.

In all we should expect plenty more deals in the works in the coming days and weeks. Don’t be shocked to see plenty more small deals like this as well as a slew of players getting released for clubs to clear roster space for this summer’s transfer window.

The Portland Timbers still have a year before they enter Major League Soccer but they are already making sure their roster will be MLS-ready. Today they signed veteran keeper Adin Brown. MLS fans will remember Brown from his time in New England back in 2002-04, he lead the Revs to a MLS Cup final in 2002.

I love this move for a couple reasons, not only do the Timbers get a quality veteran keeper this year but they also completely skip over the crazy MLS allocation process to get Brown. You see, Brown would normally go through the MLS allocation system to be placed with a club. Now Portland will have one of the first cracks at a player next year (along with Vancouver) meaning they still have a shot at a quality player. This is in a way almost a two-for-one deal.

Now Brown isn’t fully healthy yet but reports suggest he will be good to go by the middle of June. Even more important he should be 100% for the first MLS season in Portland.

Very smart of Portland to get this deal done if you ask me. It makes them better now for their USSF Division II season and for next year.

So which west coast team will end up with Gil? The one who gives up the most of course. KC is interested in an international slot for starters, according to Down the Byline the Wizards are after either a midfielder or a defender (article mentions midfielder but this Tweet talks defense).

I’d imagine some allocation would be apart of the mix here if not maybe a future draft pick. Or both, someone could be desperate to get Gil here for all we know.

So what are the odds? Its a four team race as I am concerned with LA and Seattle having the bet shot at trading for Gil. Most fans want to see him go to either place as both Bruce Arena and Sigi Schmid are great with young players. But don’t sleep on Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake here either.

Once we hear who deals for Gil I’ll have an update here.

Update: Looks as though KC is hoping to hold on to him a little bit longer here. The Wizards want to see if Gil is interested in coming to KC (yeah right) before they take offers from Seattle, RSL and probably the two LA teams. Honestly it sounds like none of the clubs offered the right deal to KC for Gil here, maybe a day or two of dealing will get it sorted out.

This is a nice little gem that just came in from the MLS Insider. Major League Soccer has gotten themselves another prized youngster in US U-17 star Luis Gil.

A weighted lottery on Monday will determine where Gil ends up. I’d imagine the weight system will be based on last year’s results, along with Philly having a higher weight based on their expansion club status. Edit: According to Steve Goff, Philly will have the worst chance of landing Gil, with NY having the top chance.

That doesn’t always mean the worst club will end up with Gil. Last year when Kyle Davies was a subject of the lottery system he ended up in Real Salt Lake, who then traded him to Dallas days later. RSL was near the bottom of the table at that time but definitely not the club holding the most ping-pond balls.

We’ll have more on this on Monday.

To learn more about Luis Gil check out his profile from U.S. Soccer.

Michael Orozco joins the Union backline. (Getty Images)

We’ve known for a little while now that US National team defender Michael Orozco was on his way to Major League Soccer, well today that became more official. The Philadelphia Union traded allocation money to the New York Red Bulls to move up to the top spot in the allocation order to sign Orozco.

The 23-year old Orozco will be on a one-year loan (with an additional one-year option) from Mexican First Division team San Luis FC. He is yet another young gun for Piotr Nowak and company. Interesting fact is that the Union only have three guys on their current roster over 30!

This addition really helps out the Union defense going into their expansion season. With Danny Califf and Orozco it seems like Nowak is putting together a mini-National team here. Make no mistake this club should be a contender in 2010, I really believe it with these signings that they are making here.

What do you make of this signing by Philadelphia? Can you believe New York gave up their top allocation spot?

Serioux made it known a while back that he wanted to return to Canada to play. Now he gets his shot with a revamped TFC squad this season. Boy I gotta tell you those Reds are starting to look mighty good for this season.

What do you all make of this deal?

Tyrone Marshall gets to reunite with coach Sigi Schmid in Seattle.

Seattle is still making deals as they set up their roster for their inaugural season in MLS.

Seattle acquired defender Tyrone Marshall from Toronto FC for $100,000 in allocation money today while trading away expansion draft pick Khano Smith to New York.

Getting Marshall adds to a backline that still needed some work done to it. For Toronto it apparently means they freed up some space to sign an unnamed central defender, a big need for the Canadian side.

Seattle wasn’t done today with just Marshall, according to SBI the club has traded midfielder Khano Smith to New York in exchange for possibly allocation money or maybe a late round draft pick.

I like the moves made by Seattle today. Getting a defender and trading away a midfielder was much needed. I’ve felt for a while they were a little heavy in the midfield and pretty light in defense.

I also like the news for Toronto, even though they need defense it definitely shows to me that they are lined up to sign someone on defense to be as one person up in Toronto put it to me recently, a  “difference maker” type player. Things I’ve heard up north suggest the Reds are really close to signing someone in defense.

For New York its also a needed move. Since trading away Dave van den Burgh to Dallas the club has been overlooking the left wing position. Smith should be able to step in and take care of that spot for them.

Christian Gomez will soon be back in black. (Getty Images)

From what I’ve been able to gather through various reports, a trade that we’ve all been discussing for weeks looks to be in the works. Christian Gomez will return to DC United in a deal sometime in the coming week.

What will the Rapids get in return for the former MVP? Steve Goff is telling us that Colorado may get a player, some cash and possibly even the DP slot that was traded to DC last year in the Gomez deal.

Still no word on how much of the tab Colorado will have to pick up on Gomez’s salary for 2009. I would expect the Rapids will have to pick up at least a third of that salary ($385,000 base in 2008), if not more.

What do you all make of Gomez coming back to DC?

I thought I would add some things to the offseason player movement page and make it a formal post like I do here and there.

I’ve added all the unsigned draft picks, that was the main change I made to this verison of the board. Some moves out there that are being reported are here and some are not. I still like to get official word from the clubs before I put the players as outgoing or incoming.

As always if you see something wrong or out of place just let me know and I will get it fixed as soon as possible.

Chicago Fire
Incoming:
Baggio Husidic (SuperDraft)

Outgoing:
Tomasz Frankowski (waived)
Diego Gutierrez (retired)
Andy Herron (waived)
Stephen King (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Lider Marmol (contract not picked up)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Jokull Elisabetarson
Richard Jata
David Sias

Additional Items:
Allocation $ (from COL in M. Pickens trade)

————————————————————-
Chivas USA
Incoming:
Ante Jazic (trade with LA)
Michael Lahoud (SuperDraft)

Outgoing:
Alex Zotinca (waived)
Roberto Nurse (Veracruz – Mexico)
Francisco Mendoza (Guadalajara – Mexico)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Kyle Christensen
Jamie Franks
Michael Lahoud

————————————————————-
Columbus Crew
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Kevin Burns (waived)
Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Ryan Junge (waived)
George Josten (waived)
Andrew Peterson (waived)
Ricardo Pierre-Louis (waived)
Brian Plotkin (waived)
Ezra Henderson (retirement)
Stefani Miglioranz (trade with LA)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Chris Clements
Paul Gerstenberger
Alex Grendi

————————————————————-
Colorado Rapids
Incoming:
Ty Harden (trade w/LA for his MLS rights)
Matt Pickens (trade w/CHI for his MLS rights)

Outgoing:
Mike Petke (Waiver Draft)
Tim Ward (waived)
Bouna Coundoul (released)
Jose Burciaga Jr (out of contract)
Facundo Erpen (option declined)
Tom McManus (option declined)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe
Steward Ceus
Michael Holody
Henry Kalungi
Ross Schunk
Jordan Seabrook

————————————————————-
FC Dallas
Incoming:
Dave van den Burgh (trade w/ New York)
Steve Purdy (signing from 1860 Munich – Germany)
Peri Marosevic (SuperDraft)
Danny Torres (signing from Bryne FK – Norway)
Sean Bucknor (undrafted free agent)

Outgoing:
Jeff Rowland (waived)
Bobby Rhine (retired)
Spencer Wadsworth (waived)
Dulio Davino (mutually parted ways)
David Wagenfuhr (retired)
Dominic Oduro (trade w/ New York)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
George John
Brian Shriver
————————————————————-
DC United
Incoming:
Chris Pontius (SuperDraft)
Rodney Wallace (SuperDraft)
Andrew Jacobson (via signing from FC Lorient – France)
Roger (signed)

Outgoing:
Jeff Carroll (waived)
Gonzalo Peralta (not re-signed, returned to Union de Santa Fe)
Ryan Cordeiro (contract not renewed)
Quavas Kirk (contract not renewed)
Ibrahim Koroma (loan expired)
Craig Thompson (contract not renewed)
Marcello Gallardo (released from contract)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Lyle Adams
Brandon Barklage
Milos Kocic

————————————————————-
Houston Dynamo
Incoming:
Julius James (via trade – Toronto FC)
Daniel Cruz (SuperDraft)
Felix Garcia (via signing from Laredo Heat – PDL)
Tally Hall (via signing from Esbjerg fB – Denmark)

Outgoing:
Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Tony Caig (waived)
Kyle Brown (waived)
Dwayne De Rosario (via trade – Toronto FC)
Patrick Ianni (via trade – Seattle Sounders)

————————————————————-
Kansas City Wizards
Incoming:
Adam Cristman (trade w/NE)
Matt Besler (SuperDraft)

Outgoing:
Carlos Marinelli (waived)
Ryan Pore (waived)
Ivan Trujillo (waived)
Tyson Wahl (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Kerry Zavagnin (retired)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Doug DeMartin
Neal Kitson
Akeem Priestley
Graham Zusi

————————————————————-
Los Angeles Galaxy
Incoming:
Jovan Kirovski (trade with San Jose)
Donovan Ricketts (via transfer from Village United – Jamaica)
Leonard Griffin (via signing from Portland Timbers – USL1)
Stefani Miglioranz (trade with Columbus)
Dema Kovalenko (trade with RSL)
Mike Magee (trade with Colorado)
Omar Gonzalez (SuperDraft)
Todd Dunivant (trade with Toronto)

Outgoing:
Scott Bolkan (retired)
Jeremy Barlow (waived)
Joe Franchino (waived)
Alvaro Pires (waived)
Greg Vanney (retired)
Peter Vagenas (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Eduardo Dominguez (waived)
Ante Jazic (trade with Chivas)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Josh Boateng
A.J. DeLaGarza
Kyle Patterson

————————————————————-
New England Revolution
Incoming:
Michael Videira (2008 draft pick, played in Scotland instead of MLS)
Kevin Alston (SuperDraft)
Zach Simmons (undrafted free agent)

Outgoing:
Jose Angulo (waived)
Adam Cristman (trade w/KC)
Khano Smith (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Doug Warren (waived)
Michael Parkhurst (via free transfer to FC Nordsjaelland – Denmark)
Joe Germanese (contract not renewed)
Gary Flood (contract not renewed)
Brandon Manzonelli (contract not renewed)
Brandon Tyler (contract not renewed)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Darrius Barnes
Andrei Gotsmanov
Denaldin Hamzagic
Tyrel Lacey
Ryan Maxwell
Chris Salvaggione

Additional Items
2009 SuperDraft 3rd round pick(from KC in A. Cristman trade)
Allocation $ (from KC in A. Cristman trade)

————————————————————-
New York Red Bulls
Incoming:
Mike Petke (Waiver Draft)
Dominic Oduro (trade w/ Dallas)
Jeremy Hall (SuperDraft)

Outgoing:
Gabriel Cichero (waived)
Gordan Kljestan (waived)
Jeff Parke (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Sainey Touray (waived)
Diego Jiminez (loan expired)
Dave van den Burgh (trade w/ Dallas)
Mike Magee (trade with LA)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Jeremy Hall
Babajide Ogunbiyi
Jack Traynor
Nick Zimmerman

————————————————————-
Real Salt Lake
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Nik Besagno (waived)
Kenny Cutler (waived)
Dustin Kirby (waived)
Nathan Sturgis (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Dema Kovalenko (trade with LA)
Kenny Deuchar (Hamilton Academical – Scotland)
Fabian Espindola (unknown club in Venezuela)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Jean Alexandre
Futhi Bhembe
Raphael Cox

Additional Items:
Allocation $ (from LA in D. Kovalenko trade)
Conditional SuperDraft pick in 2011 (from LA in D. Kovalenko trade)

————————————————————-
San Jose Earthquakes
Incoming:
Peter Byers (Montreal Impact – USL1)
Cam Weaver (via transfer from FK Haugesund – Norway)

Outgoing:
Jovan Kirovski (trade w/LA)
James Riley (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Francisco Lima (Taranto – Italy)
Ronnie O’Brien (out of contract)
Scott Sealy (signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv – Israel)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Quincy Amarikwa
Brad Ring

Additional Items
Conditional 2010 SuperDraft pick (from LA in J. Kirovski trade)

————————————————————-
Seattle Sounders FC
Incoming:
Sebastien Le Toux (via signing from Seattle – USL1)
Freddie Ljungberg (via signing from West Ham United – England)
Sanna Nyassi (via signing from Ports Authority FC – Gambia)
Kasey Keller (via signing from Fulham – England)
Brad Evans (Expansion Draft)
Nate Jaqua (Expansion Draft)
Stephen King (Expansion Draft)
Jeff Parke (Expansion Draft)
James Riley (Expansion Draft)
Jarrod Smith (Expansion Draft)
Khano Smith (Expansion Draft)
Nathan Sturgis (Expansion Draft)
Peter Vagenas (Expansion Draft)
Tyson Wahl (Expansion Draft)
Chris Eylander (via signing from Seattle – USL1)
Steve Zakuani (SuperDraft)
Patrick Ianni (via trade – Houston Dynamo)
Osvaldo Alonso (via signing from Charleston Battery – USL1)
Fredy Montero (via transfer from Deportivo Cali – Columbia)

Outgoing:

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Evan Brown
Michael Fucito
Jared Karkas

————————————————————-
Toronto FC
Incoming:
Dwayne De Rosario (via trade – Houston Dynamo)
Sam Cronin (SuperDraft)
Stefan Frei (SuperDraft)

Outgoing:
Hunter Freeman (IK Start – Norway)
Tim Regan (Retired)
Julius James (trade with Houston Dynamo)
Jarrod Smith (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Carlos Ruiz (waived)
Joey Melo (waived)
Todd Dunivant (trade with LA Galaxy)

Unsigned Draft Picks:
Kyle Hall
O’Brian White

The newer ones are in bold.

As always, if any moves are incorrect just let me know and I will get this updated as soon as possible.

Chicago Fire
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Tomasz Frankowski (waived)
Diego Gutierrez (retired)
Andy Herron (waived)
Stephen King (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)

————————————————————-
Chivas USA
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Alex Zotinca (waived)

————————————————————-
Columbus Crew
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Kevin Burns (waived)
Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Ryan Junge (waived)
George Josten (waived)
Andrew Peterson (waived)
Ricardo Pierre-Louis (waived)
Brian Plotkin (waived)

————————————————————-
Colorado Rapids
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Mike Petke (Waiver Draft)
Tim Ward (waived)

————————————————————-
FC Dallas
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Jeff Rowland (waived)
Bobby Rhine (retired)
Spencer Wadsworth (waived)
Dulio Davino (mutually parted ways)
David Wagenfuhr (retired)

————————————————————-
DC United
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Jeff Carroll (waived)

————————————————————-
Houston Dynamo
Incoming:
Julius James (via trade – Toronto FC)

Outgoing:
Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Tony Caig (waived)
Kyle Brown (waived)
Dwayne De Rosario (via trade – Toronto FC)

Other items:
Allocation $ (De Rosario trade with Toronto)

————————————————————-
Kansas City Wizards
Incoming:
Adam Cristman (trade w/NE)

Outgoing:
Carlos Marinelli (waived)
Ryan Pore (waived)
Ivan Trujillo (waived)
Tyson Wahl (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Kerry Zavagnin (retired)

————————————————————-
Los Angeles Galaxy
Incoming:
Jovan Kirovski (trade w/SJ)

Outgoing:
Scott Bolkan (retired)
Jeremy Barlow (waived)
Joe Franchino (waived)
Alvaro Pires (waived)
Greg Vanney (retired)
Peter Vagenas (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)

————————————————————-
New England Revolution
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Jose Angulo (waived)
Adam Cristman (trade w/KC)
Khano Smith (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Doug Warren (waived)
Michael Parkhurst (via free transfer to FC Nordsjaelland – Denmark)

Additional Items
2009 SuperDraft 3rd round pick(from KC in A. Cristman trade)
Allocation $ (from KC in A. Cristman trade)

————————————————————-
New York Red Bulls
Incoming:
Mike Petke (Waiver Draft)

Outgoing:
Gabriel Cichero (waived)
Gordan Kljestan (waived)
Jeff Parke (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)
Sainey Touray (waived)

————————————————————-
Real Salt Lake
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Nik Besagno (waived)
Kenny Cutler (waived)
Dustin Kirby (waived)
Nathan Sturgis (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)

————————————————————-
San Jose Earthquakes
Incoming:

Outgoing:
Jovan Kirovski (trade w/LA)
James Riley (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)

Additional Items
Conditional 2010 SuperDraft pick (from LA in J. Kirovski trade)

————————————————————-
Seattle Sounders FC
Incoming:
Sebastien Le Toux (via signing from Seattle – USL1)
Freddie Ljungberg (via signing from West Ham United – England)
Sanna Nyassi (via signing from Ports Authority FC – Gambia)
Kasey Keller (via signing from Fulham – England)
Brad Evans (Expansion Draft)
Nate Jaqua (Expansion Draft)
Stephen King (Expansion Draft)
Jeff Parke (Expansion Draft)
James Riley (Expansion Draft)
Jarrod Smith (Expansion Draft)
Khano Smith (Expansion Draft)
Nathan Sturgis (Expansion Draft)
Peter Vagenas (Expansion Draft)
Tyson Wahl (Expansion Draft)

Outgoing:

————————————————————-
Toronto FC
Incoming:
Dwayne De Rosario (via trade – Houston Dynamo)

Outgoing:
Hunter Freeman (IK Start – Norway)
Tim Regan (Retired)
Julius James (via trade – Houston Dynamo)
Jarrod Smith (Seattle Sounders FC – Expansion Draft)