Two days, two major trades for the Chicago Fire
Two days, two major trades for the Chicago Fire.
On Friday the Fire completed the long-rumored trade of the MLS rights to Robbie Rogers to Los Angeles, getting Long Grove native Mike Magee from the Galaxy in return, a source confirmed. The deal has not yet been announced officially, but the Galaxy has called a “player acquisition” press conference for Saturday.
On Thursday the Fire reacquired central defender Bakary Soumare from Philadelphia for a second-round draft pick.
Both deals are just what the eighth-place Fire (2-7-1, 7 points) needs. Soumare will shore up the back line and could play in Saturday's match at Real Salt Lake (8 p.m., Channel 50). Magee adds much-needed scoring punch to a club that has been shut out six times already this season, including its last three matches. Both will join the club just in time to be added to the roster for U.S. Open Cup play also.
Magee, 28, has 6 goals this season, 3 of them coming in the season opener against the Fire. His new teammates have scored 6 goals combined this year.
The Fire is 11 points out of a playoff spot with 24 games to go, but these two trades could give the club the push needed to get back in the playoff hunt. Magee has a nose for the goal, and he's used to winning with the two-time defending MLS Cup champion Galaxy.
The Fire acquired the MLS rights to Rogers in February as part of the deal that sent Dominic Oduro to Columbus. The Fire also received promising young midfielder Dilly Duka in that trade.
Shortly after the trade Rogers, who had been playing in England, announced he is gay and retired from soccer. But he was surprised by the warm reception his announcement received, especially in MLS, and he got the itch to play again. He had been training with the Galaxy and said he wanted to play for his hometown team.
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