The word on the street is that Rapids just traded midfielder Nick LaBrocca and a draft pick to Toronto FC for defender Marvell Wynne.
I’ll post more details as they become available.
[UPDATE] Both the Rapids and Toronto are saying the trade is official. The Colorado Rapids traded midfielder Nick LaBrocca and a 3rd round draft pick to Toronto FC for defender Marvell Wynne.
Here are Wynne’s vitasl:
Marvell Wynne
DOB: May 8, 1986 (age 23)
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Weights: 171
Last Club: Toronto FC
College: UCLA
He has 2 goals and 13 career assists in four seasons. Colorado will be his 3rd team. He was drafted out of UCLA by New York before being traded to Toronto in 2007. He’s fallen out of favor in Toronto and is looking to get back on track with the Rapids.
Rapids Official Press Release:
COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Thursday, March 25, 2010) – The Colorado Rapids have acquired defender Marvell Wynne in a trade with Toronto FC, the club announced today.
In exchange, Colorado send midfielder Nick LaBrocca and their third round 2011 Major League Soccer SuperDraft pick to Toronto.
Wynne joins the Rapids adding his lightning pace to the club’s backline. Over the last two seasons, he has developed into more of an offensive threat scoring his first professional goals in 2008 and registering a career high five assists with TFC last season. Wynne has three caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team and was a member of the Men’s Olympic Team that competed in Beijing in 2008. The former first overall selection in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft by New York has played in 96 career MLS games, 90 as a starter, and recorded two goals and 13 assists.
Wynne will join the team in Los Angeles ahead of their 2010 season opener against Chivas USA tomorrow, Friday, March 26 at 8:30 pm MT.
LaBrocca leaves Colorado having played in more games and in more minutes than any other Rapids player since 2008. He appeared in 61 games with 57 starts and scored four goals for Colorado after originally being drafted by the Rapids with the 35th overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft.
This is the third trade Colorado and Toronto have completed in the last three months. On January 21, the Rapids acquired allocation money from Toronto in exchange for midfielder Jacob Peterson and on February 10 the Rapids acquired TFC’s third round 2011 MLS SuperDraft pick in exchange for defender Ty Harden.
Transaction
MLS
Colorado Rapids – Acquired defender Marvell Wynne from Toronto FC in exchange for midfielder Nick LaBrocca and Colorado’s third round 2011 Major League Soccer SuperDraft pick.
Coach Smith discussed the trade with the Green Army:
I headed out to training this morning and got a few comments from Gary Smith about the trade. LaBrocca was highly regarded by Smith and he is “extremely disappointed to lose Nick.”
The move comes as a surprise to most fans. He was a key member of the team for the last few seasons. There might be more to the story than just strengthening the backline.
“There were some personal reasons for Nick, so the move took place, and I wish him all the very best. He’s played nearly every minute for me. It’s disappointing to see him go but we are excited to have Marvel in return.”
Wynne is an incredibly fast and athletic defender. Coach Smith is excited about the qualities he brings in right away as well as his potential.
“I think he’s a fabulous addition for us. We were very stretched in that defensive lineup. He not only adds good physical qualities, but in his present potential state we add someone for the future.”
Wynne will be with team at Chivas USA but Coach Smith is uncertain about Wynne’s participation.
“Marvel will be there for us in the weekend, obviously it’s a long journey, a bit of a time difference. I’m hoping he’ll be in the right mental or physical shape to play a part in the game, but at this point I’m not sure how much.”
Most people see Wynne as the new starting right back. He has national team experience and brings athletic qualities that few players in the league possess. Coach Smith thinks it’s a mistake to count out Kimura and is considering playing Wynne in different positions.
“Kosuke, I think, is one of those guys when the chips are down he’s always been there for us, I don’t expect that to be any different. He’s improved every year that I’ve been here.”
“I don’t necessarily think that Marvel is a given in that position. I’d like to explore the possibility of him sliding inside every now and then to offer us that extra bit of pace centrally, but only time will tell how that evolves.”
The Rapids are stock piling defenders and Coach Smith is happy with the players they’ve brought.
“We’ve put together a very exciting group of defenders. There is some huge potential in some of those guys, some of them are yet to reach their peak, Marvel is included in them.”
Coach Smith isn’t done building his team and isn’t ruling out additional moves. Coach Smith thinks the team needs to bring in “a body or two creatively, and a body in the back four.”
Coach Smith wouldn’t give me any hints on who they are looking at, but it’s good to know that the team is moving their attention to the offensive side of the ball.
