Fire acquire McCarty from New York
The Chicago Fire found a way to spend the cash it acquired during Friday's MLS SuperDraft.
The Fire on Monday traded $400,000 in general allocation money to the New York Red Bulls for New York's captain, Dax McCarty. McCarty, who just got married Saturday, is in U.S. national team camp with new U.S. coach Bruce Arena.
The move is the latest in a busy off-season for the Fire, which signed central midfielder Juninho on loan from Club Tijuana, forward Nemanja Nikolic from Legia Warsaw and goalkeeper Jorge Bava. The club drafted three players in Friday's SuperDraft.
The additions of McCarty and Juninho does not mean the Fire won't still pursue international midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger or Andres Guardado for the Fire's third DP slot, a source said. The Fire still has Matt Polster, a 2015 Fire draft pick, at central midfield.
"Since the middle of 2016, we made acquiring Dax our No. 1 priority," said Fire general manager Nelson RodrÃguez. "In order to do so, we had to exchange worthy and appropriate compensation. We believe adding his character and leadership in the locker room, as well as his exceptional soccer abilities on the field, dramatically improves our team."
The Fire suffered from a lack of leadership during the 2016 season, when they finished with the worst record in MLS for a second consecutive season. It also was weak defensively, something McCarty's addition should help.
The Fire also is still expected to try to shore up its back line, particularly right back.
Half of the GAM in the McCarty deal will be sent to New York this season, half next.
McCarty, 29, is under contract through the 2017 season, with club options for 2018 and 2019.
The Fire traded its first-round draft pick last week, No. 3 overall, to New York City FC for $250,000 in GAM. The trade was first reported by Paul Tenorio, the Fire's TV sideline reporter, for 4-4-2 magazine.