From Last Word on Soccer, by Kevin Drastura
The New York Red Bulls have traded captain and defensive midfielder Dax McCarty to the Chicago Fire. The Red Bulls announced Monday evening that they have sent McCarty to Chicago in exchange for $400,000 in General Allocation Money. Joining the Red Bulls in 2011, McCarty was a fan favorite for his “pit-bull” like mentality. Dax may have never been the biggest player, but he certainly made an impact when he played. McCarty became a staple in the Red Bulls defensive midfield an excelled.
Dax McCarty Traded to Chicago Fire. Three Things This Means.
In his tenure for the Red Bulls, Dax appeared in 169 matches. He tallied 14 goals and racked up 27 assists in his six seasons with the club. His best year was by far 2015 when he was selected to both the MLS Best XI and to the 2015 MLS All-Star Game.
Vacant Captaincy
One of the biggest questions now is who will be the next Red Bulls Captain? Many believe the armband will fall to MLS MVP Finalist Sacha Kljestan. Kljestan wore the armband in the majority of the matches McCarty missed last season due to injury. Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles is another likely option. Another big fan favorite for the club, Robles is an option that supporters of the club would get behind. Robles is quite the vocal leader from the back and can normally be heard all over the arena on match day.
Sean Davis and Tyler Adams
Sean Davis and Tyler Adams are the on the team who benefit the most from this trade. With Dax gone Sean Davis is the likely option to slide into that role. While McCarty was recovering from a fractured tibia, Davis slid into Dax’s spot and the team barley missed a beat. The Red Bulls went unbeaten in the five matches Davis started, winning three of the five. In 10 starts last season, Davis recorded two goals and two assists. Adams will be another chomping at the bit with this opportunity. Spending the last two seasons on New York Red Bulls II, the now 17 year old has impressed in his few times he has been seen on the senior team. With Davis now starting, Adams could very well find himself seeing a good amount of sub appearances this season.
$$$$$$$$
This was a strong move for the Red Bulls financially. As stated before, they received $400,000 in General Allocation Money. The Red Bulls also freed up quite a bit of cap space from McCarty’s contract. McCarty made $500,000 last year, with his base salary starting at $400,000. With the extra financial boost, the Red Bulls will surely be able to bring in a few signing. With the Red Bulls first competitive match against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the CONCACAF Champions’ League Quarterfinal fast approaching, the Red Bulls need to fill up some holes in their roster and fast.
