A short bit of news to start off this Friday. The Houston Chronicle is reporting the Houston Dynamo are set to sign defender Hunter Freeman today. The club reached a deal with the New York Red Bulls for Freeman’s MLS rights.

The 25-year old right back had been in Norway with IK Start the last couple of years. The Red Bulls had previously held his player rights when he left the league for Norway. No official word yet on what the Red Bulls will receive from the Dynamo. Don’t laugh but it will likely be a 4th round pick in a future SuperDraft based on how deals have gone this winter. If not that then some small allocation.

For a team that needed cover in defense this is a good start to their offseason. Freeman comes back to MLS after getting some playing time overseas.

Here are some more detals on the trade: It includes a clause that will force TFC to give the Red Bulls a 2011 second-round MLS SuperDraft pick if Freeman re-signs with Toronto FC at any point in 2009 (Freeman’s MLS contract is up on Dec. 31 and he is set to join Norwegian club IK Start on Jan. 1). If Freeman returns to MLS after 2009, his MLS rights would revert back to the Red Bulls, with no compensation being owed to Toronto.

The move for Toronto means they are trying to add some sort of depth now after seeing their roster get picked apart a week ago by national teams. Honestly its a bit too little too late here from the Reds. Plus they won’t even get to keep Freeman after the season is up as he is set to head to Norway after his contract ends in January.

I guess desperation breeds trades like this.

Obviously the move for New York frees up some space to still try and sign Macoumba Kandji from USL-1 side Atlanta. With the MLS roster freeze deadline set for Monday at 5pm, New York sees this as a final chance to add some depth to their attack going into the final month and a half of the season. They’ve already been making offers to other clubs out there during their striker search and are now said to be in some early talks with Kandji about a contract agreement.

Reports are also saying they made a serious offer to Colorado for striker Omar Cummings, its a move we’ve talked about for a few weeks now. New York wants a speedy striker and Cummings would certainly fill that need. I’ve also been hearing that they are set to make a pitch to Dallas for Dominic Oduro. That’s a name that has been out on the table for a little while with New York as well.

Some are saying the club could end up bringing on as many as three new players by Monday’s deadline. Its sort of a wait and see kind of thing. I still doubt the club will land Kandji this year.

Its clear that New York wants everything they possibly can have in line for a serious playoff push this season. While I think their chances are pretty good at getting into the post season dance it is how they perform in that opening quarterfinal round that will be the big question. Does adding a Kandji or a Cummings really help their chances on the road in a place like Columbus or New England? It may but I see a club like Columbus or New England with plenty of their own speed to counter that kind of attack from New York.

Plus, let’s not forget New York hasn’t been too great on the road this season.

What do you all make of these moves? Does Freeman fit in Toronto? Will New York finally land Kandji or will they have to settle for someone that’s currently in the league?