Los Angeles, Calif. (December 15, 2017) – The LA Galaxy have traded the MLS rights to goalkeeper Brian Rowe to Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In exchange, they have received a second round draft pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.
LA Galaxy Trade Rights to Goalkeeper Brian Rowe To Vancouver Whitecaps
NEWS: #VWFC acquire goalkeeper @ROWE_BRIAN_ from LA Galaxy for natural second round pick in 2018 MLS SuperDraft
→ https://t.co/2mmJ0ccbH8 pic.twitter.com/eHtGxMlECh
— Vancouver Whitecaps (@WhitecapsFC) December 15, 2017
Brian Rowe was selected by Chivas USA out of UCLA in the 2012 MLS Supplementary Draft. He didn’t earn a contract with the club and signed as an MLS Pool Goalkeeper. He was acquired by the LA Galaxy later that summer. Prior to this trade, he had spent his entire professional career with the LA Galaxy.
Rowe was with the club for six seasons. He made 56 league starts and earned 16 clean sheets. Rowe finally earned the opportunity to play regular minutes in 2016 after Dan Kennedy went down with an injury in the first game of the season.
The 29-year-old started 30 of 34 regular season games that year. He recorded nine clean sheets, 113 saves, and 33 goals against.
The 2017 season was a roller coaster for Rowe and the Galaxy in general. Due to roster turnover and a new coaching staff, the club struggled to start the season. Head Coach Curt Onalfo benched Rowe after several poor team performances in favor of Clement Diop, Onalfo’s primary starter during their time with LA Galaxy II together.
Diop had horrendous season with several highlight reel howlers. Onalfo was forced to go back to Rowe, but the damage had already been done to his confidence. Rowe did not see much of the field under Sigi Schmid.
Transaction: LA Galaxy trade the rights to goalkeeper Brian Rowe and acquire second-round pick in 2018 MLS SuperDraft from Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
Name: Brian Rowe
Age: 29
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 185
Birthplace: Eugene, OR
Hometown: Eugene, OR
Last Club: LA Galaxy (MLS)
What this trade means:
Similar to the Jack McBean and Jon Kempin trades from earlier this week, the Galaxy are offloading players they do not intend to keep. Some of them do not have much value on the open MLS market, so they are taking what they can get for them. They’re accumulating draft picks. Right now, Vancouver’s natural second round pick is in the middle of that round. There should be some blue-chip talent to pick from.
On the other side, the Whitecaps get a viable back up keeper option. The change of scenery should do some good for Rowe’s confidence. We’ll see if he can change for the starting spot as David Ousted will not be back with the club.
