Music: {allcanada} TORONTO FC DEALS ECKERSLEY TO RED BULLS FOR DRAFT PICK

Monday, January 27, 2014

{allcanada} TORONTO FC DEALS ECKERSLEY TO RED BULLS FOR DRAFT PICK

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TORONTO -- Toronto FC dealt defender Richard Eckersley to the New York Red Bulls for a fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft on Monday.

The move, long expected, was money-related. The MLS Players Union listed Eckersley's salary last season at US$310,000, second-highest among the numbers made public for Toronto players.

His number for 2014 was even higher, thanks to a contract renegotiation last year to help ease the 2013 salary cap burden.

It was not immediately clear if Toronto is eating any of that salary.

Eckersley, 24, made 92 appearances for Toronto over three seasons. He originally joined the club on loan from English side Burnley FC in April 2011.

He signed a permanent contract with Toronto FC at the end of his loan in January 2012.

"Moving someone that has been with the club for an extended period is always a difficult decision," GM Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement. "However with the acquisitions we made during the off-season particularly in defence, along the cap relief, this move made sense.

"We'd like to thank Richard for his contributions to the club over the past three seasons and wish him all the best in New York."

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