Aug 08
LA to Send Carlos Ruiz to Toronto FC? Jeff Cunningham Traded to Dallas
Alexi Lalas has been trying to ship Carlos Ruiz somewhere for a while now. Unfortunately, he’s proven difficult to sell. However, Toronto’s long running search for a viable option at forward has brought them to LA’s doorstep. A source has told me that Toronto has made preliminary inquiries about the availabilty of Ruiz. Toronto has been searching for a strong striker for a while now, and with the falling out between coach John Carver and Jeff Cunningham resulting in Cunningham being traded to Dallas, Toronto is desperate to find their man.
Alexi Lalas is finally close to making a sensible personnel move. LA has cleared a large portion of cap-space to go after defenders, most notably, Cory Gibbs who is close to joining the Galaxy. If
Jeff Cunningham has been traded to Dallas a source close to the negotiation has just told me. The deal sends a third round pick to Toronto in exchange for Cunningham. Cunningham was traded due to his bad attitude, and the fact that he had fallen out with Coach John Carver.
The trade makes way for Toronto to sign Ruiz. Toronto needed to offload an international to make room for Ruiz, and they’ve done that.
They didn’t get much for Cunningham, but he needed to leave because he was a bad influence in the locker room and a general disturbance.
What do you think of Ruiz to Toronto? Is it the first sensible move that LA has made all season? What about Cunningham to Dallas? Is that a good trade? Your thoughts below.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
If Gibbs is healthy and fit. The Galaxy need a central defender who know how to play and is fast badly!
Ruiz has lost a step and defenders in the league know how to defend him now not like when he was first in the league.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
agreed, ruiz isn’t being used and galaxy need a central defender. It makes sense.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I disagree with your reason on why Ruiz needs to go its not that he can’t play it’s that Buddle has stepped up and with Ruiz’s injury issues he hasn’t played and now doesn’t have his spot thanks to Buddle. I do agree that this is the right move Buddle more than makes up for Ruiz right now and with his large chunk of salary being offloaded the Galaxy can get a defense to help bolster the best offense in the league.
I would also love to see them get rid of a backup keeper and drop Cronin’s sorry butt back to the bench and pick up a real keeper, losing Joe Cannon was the worst thing that happened to LA in last years offseason because Cronin clearly doesn’t have what it takes…sure the D isn’t helping him but come on many of the goals he allows are all on him.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
i think its a combination. he’s certainly not needed, and I also think that he’s lost a step or he’s been figured out by defenders. When he plays, he’s not as dynamic anymore and in limited action, hasn’t really been all that effective. Although, Buddle has completely shut out Ruiz and taken just about all of his playing time.
Cronin to put it kindly is crap. He’s so bad, the only person worse is Zach Wells. I agree that it was a big mistake to get rid of cannon, you could count on him to bail the galaxy out when they go beat, they could’ve used him this year.
August 9th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Hey, lay off Cronin. Its still better than say, Paul Robinson. I kid, Cronin sucks too. How about making a swoop for Marcus Hanneman or Kasey Keller? Surely L.A. would be on level, if not better than playing with Reading this year, and I haven’t heard anything from Keller since Fulham signed Mark Swharzer.
August 9th, 2008 at 9:08 am
that’s interesting ryan. LA would love to have Keller, but they don’t have the cap space to sign a guy like keller. if they want to sign gibbs, they need to get rid of ruiz which they’re doing, and then and only then can they sign gibbs. they won’t have cap space to get keller or even hanheman.
You can take Zach Wells from DC, he’s available.
They need a new keeper, but besides keller and hanheman who they couldn’t afford, I can’t think of anybody who they could bring in from the league. Any thoughts on who they could bring in?
August 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Me…at only 5’8″ but quick feet I can’t be worse than Cronin