LA Galaxy trade Edson Buddle to Colorado Rapids

The LA Galaxy have traded Edson Buddle to the Colorado Rapids for Allocation Money and Colorado's first round pick in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft. Earlier today the Galaxy traded their first round pick in the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft, an international slot, and the No. 19 position in today's Re-Entry Process to Chivas USA for the second pick the Supplemental Draft.

Buddle leaves as the fourth leading scorer in Galaxy history, with 42 goals in 87 appearances. He spent three and a half seasons with the Galaxy after joining the club in June of 2007. He spent 2011 with FC Ingolstadt in the German 2. Bundesliga. He's the only player in MLS history to score 40 goals with two or more clubs. Buddle has 93 career goals in MLS.

In talking with Bruce Arena, the Edson Buddle trade was painted as specifically about balancing the salary budget. Arena said that in a perfect world Buddle would still be a member of the Galaxy, but that MLS isn't a perfect world. According to the Players Union, Buddle made $225,000 playing for the Galaxy last year.