RSL trades all-time leading scorer Saborio to DC United


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SANDY — Real Salt Lake's all-time leading scorer Alvaro Saborio missed the game before Gold Cup duty with Costa Rica for personal matters.

Now he won't be returning to Salt Lake City at all.

The 33-year-old target striker was traded to D.C. United early Thursday morning in exchange for forward Luis Silva, the Eastern Conference-leading club announced via news release.

"Saborio has been a proven goal scorer throughout his career, especially in Major League Soccer," D.C. GM Dave Kasper said in a statement. "He's a true No. 9 that will provide an immediate spark to our offense."

Saborio, who joined RSL as the club's first-ever designated player in 2010, departs the club with 63 goals in 127 appearances. He leaves as RSL's current record-holder in goals, game-winning goals, multigame goals, hat tricks, playoff goals and goals in a single season.

The Costa Rican international has missed substantial time due to international call-ups and a foot injury suffered in the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup that cost him much of the season.

"Alvaro was a legend with this club and we thank him for his time spent with RSL," RSL technical director Craig Waibel said in a statement. "But the time has come for us to evolve as a club and this trade is a great opportunity to add a talented player in Luis Silva who can bring a lot to this team."

Saborio's goal-scoring production has declined every season since breaking out for 17 goals in 2012. He's scored only three goals in 14 appearances in 2015, and the team is scoring a goal every 79 minutes without him on the field compared with 108-minute rate with him, according to local statistician Charles Barnard.

Real Salt Lake forward Sebastian Jaime celebrates after scoring a goal in the second half against Columbus Crew SC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Saturday, June 27, 2015. The match ended in a draw, 2-2. (Photo: Chris Samuels/Deseret News)
Real Salt Lake forward Sebastian Jaime celebrates after scoring a goal in the second half against Columbus Crew SC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Saturday, June 27, 2015. The match ended in a draw, 2-2. (Photo: Chris Samuels/Deseret News)

Saborio's production slump has also come as newcomer Sebastian Jaime has picked up his own scoring streak. After being held nearly 800 minutes without a goals after joining RSL from Chile's Union Espanola at the end of last season's transfer window, the Argentine forward has scored a goal in four of the past five MLS matches for Real Salt Lake, including three goals at home.

"I don't want to say better; you don't get better than your all-time leading scorer. But I have a long-term plan ... and we need to make some moves," Waibel told the media after RSL training Thursday. "It's been frustrating this year for a lot of reasons, and it came a time where, as I look down the road for this organization, it was the right time to consider moving Sabo.

"In the last week, things started to make sense. I would've had no problem for the end of the year, but this made the most sense for the club and for Sabo's individual career. He can go to another club and get a few more years."

In Saborio, D.C. United gets a proven goal-scorer, something they have needed since the sudden retirement of designated player Eddie Johnson due to health conditions. Saborio is also reunited with former RSL teammate Fabian Espindola, with whom he played three seasons at RSL. The two combined for 65 goals and 21 assists from 2010-12.

None of that made the decision easy, though, RSL coach Jeff Cassar told the media after RSL training Thursday.

"When these decisions are made, they are never easy, especially for a person who has meant so much to our club, to our fanbase, won a championship," Cassar said. "He's been very instrumental in what RSL is about, and it's not easy making these decisions. He's scored many important goals for us, and it was not easy to make this move."

D.C. acquired Silva in a trade with Toronto FC in July 2013, and the off-striker broke out a scoring streak last year with 11 goals. But the 26-year-old scored just once in 14 appearances for the Black and Red in 2015, and he spent a majority of his time as a reserve.

With Silva, RSL can reunite the attacking player with former Toronto FC teammate Joao Plata. The two combined for eight goals and 10 assists in 2011, Plata's rookie season after being selected No. 49 overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.

"At the end of the day, he's just a very good soccer player," Cassar said of Silva. "If you look at his career plan, even through college, he's been very versatile. He's been a defensive midfielder, a center back, an attacking midfielder and a forward in the same year in Santa Barbara.

"He's very good on both sides of the ball, and I think it will be a very nice addition to both sides of our team."

Both players are in the final year of MLS contracts, according to Steven Goff of The Washington Post. RSL stands to save substantial cap space on Silva, who earns $150,000 compared to $450,000 for Saborio, according to The Post.

Silva missed all of the 2014 preseason with injuries, and also suffered a hamstring injury in May and a groin injury just two weeks ago that saw him sit out a handful of regular-season games.

The move also frees a designated player spot for Real Salt Lake to make a move during the current transfer window. RSL also retains its allotment of targeted allocation money, a new mechanism that allows teams to shuffle $500,000 over the next three years between one or more players to "buy down" salary cap charges and free additional DP slots.

Waibel confirmed the trade gives RSL freedom to go after additional signings during the current transfer window.

"This inevitably gives us the opportunity to get Luis Silva, but it opens up some cap space to make another move," Waibel said. "We'll surely be looking to do that, to add talent now that will be with us for years to come."

RSL plays D.C. United on Aug. 1 at RFK Stadium — a match that should feature Saborio and much of the rest of the Gold Cup contingent from both rosters.

Saborio and Costa Rica face Mexico in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. MT, the day after Kyle Beckerman, Nick Rimando and the rest of the United States National Team play Cuba.

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