The Portland Timbers acquired a pair of defensive specialists in a trade with the Houston Dynamo on Thursday. Lovel Palmer, a defensive-minded central midfielder, and Mike Chabala, a left back, were traded to the Timbers in exchange for Adam Moffat and some allocation money. The Timbers also picked up an international roster spot that will be filled by Palmer, leaving them with one more open spot.
Portland Timbers Bolster Defense, Acquire Lovel Palmer, Mike Chabala
Like any trade involving allocation money, the real winners and losers are hard to assess. The Dynamo are rumored to have received $150,000 in allocation money, nearly enough to cover the entire cost of a midseason Designated Player. If true, the trade makes a lot of sense for both parties.
The biggest asset to move in either direction is probably Palmer, although it’s unclear where he’ll play. Most of his career has been spent as a box-to-box midfielder and that’s one thing the Timbers seem to have plenty of. He has played some at center back for the Jamaican national team, and that could be where John Spencer envisions him with the Timbers.
The other players involved in the trade have been unable to get much playing time this year with their previous teams. Chabala started 34 matches over the past two years, but had made just two appearances in 2011. Moffat was a starter a year ago as a central midfielder with the Columbus Crew, but had made just four appearances this season. Both could end up starting for their new teams.
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