:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28865627/20130818_ajl_ax5_142.0.jpg)
All off-season the fans had been clamoring for a big move to replace Juan Agudelo up front for the New England Revolution.
And with the Revs about to kick off at the preseason Desert Diamond Cup in Tuscon, AZ later today, the front office delivered on that big move.
The Revolution have announced a trade with Sporting Kansas City for Teal Bunbury, sending a 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick and allocation money back to SKC. Bunbury is expected to join the team later this week.
"We've been very open about our desire to add some additional attacking players to our roster ahead of the season and we believe Teal is a player who can make the sort of impact we need," New England general manager Michael Burns said. "He's a talented, young player who can add a dynamic element to our system, and we're looking forward to getting him into camp and integrated into our group as soon as possible."
Following a five-goal, two-assist rookie campaign in 2010, Bunbury scored a career-high nine goals and added a career-best three assists in 2011 while tying for the team lead in goals. After his breakout sophomore campaign, Bunbury saw limited MLS action in 2012 and 2013 because of international call-ups and injury.
Bunbury spent much of the early spring 2012 with the U.S. Under-23 (Olympic) team ahead of and during Olympic qualifying, and then suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Sporting KC's game on Aug. 26, 2012. He later returned to the field on June 12, 2013 in a U.S. Open Cup match, 10 months after the injury. Before tearing his ACL in a match against New York, Bunbury made 22 appearances, scored five goals and added one assist in 2012.
After recovering from his injury, Bunbury made 12 appearances with 1 start in 2013 MLS regular season games totaling one assist during that stretch which featured him usually coming on as a late substitute. Bunbury also made two starts during SKC's MLS Playoff run which saw them hoist the MLS Cup over Real Salt Lake. Bunbury also won the 2012 U.S. Open Cup with SKC and has been called into three United States national team camps with Jurgen Klinsmann in September 2011, October 2011 and January 2012.
.@NERevolution love forwards who need change of scenery IN a contract year. Agudelo now Bunbury. Will it pay dividends like last year?!
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) February 19, 2014
According to Taylor Twellman via Twitter, Bunbury is in a contract year and brings up the similarities to the way the Revs acquired Agudelo last year. While that trade only cost the Revs allocation money, with such a young core signed long term the Revs probably feel like they can part with a first round pick to bring in a player like Bunbury.
Overall this is a move that most Revolution fans will like, another talented young player that fills a need and at a reasonable price for the front office. If this becomes more of a long term move for the Revs by extending Bunbury than losing the first round pick won't be as large of a factor. Last year's very worthy trade for Agudelo only required allocation money to Chivas USA, so we'll see the impact Bunbury has with the Revs and whether the two sides want and can work out a long term deal.
Obviously this gives the Revs another option in the striker corps along with Dimitry Imbongo and Jerry Bengtson. With Diego Fagundez, Charlie Davies, rookies Steve Neumann and Patrick Mullins in the mix with Saer Sene recovering from injury, the Revs will have no shortage of options up front going into 2014. Unsigned draft pick Pierre Omanga and Belgian trialist Marvin Ogunjimi are also still with the Revs in preseason training camp.
Hopefully Bunbury can quickly adapt with the Revs in preseason as the Revs begin play in the preseason Desert Diamond Cup tonight against Real Salt Lake at 8pm EST in Tuscon, AZ. The Revolution being the 2014 MLS regular season at the Houston Dynamo on March 8th.
