Chivas USA have announced that they have traded midfielder Shalrie Joseph to the Seattle Sounders, along with their 2014 and 2015 second round SuperDraft picks, in exchange for the number 15 Allocation Ranking. Joseph had a recent two-day trial with Seattle in which Sounders coach Sigi Schmid remarked Joseph looked "unfit." It's unlikely that Schmid either had a change of heart or that Joseph started hitting the stairmaster but that Schmid was bluffing. And it worked. Ives Galarcep is reporting that Chivas gave up their 3rd spot in the Allocation Order, and will pay a portion of Joseph's salary, although the amount is of course, undisclosed.

Given the recent trades Chivas has made, Joseph's poor form with Chivas and, most damning, Chelis' remarks about Joseph, it's somewhat of a surprise that they found a taker for Joseph. Likely many will blast Chivas for giving Seattle such a sweetheart deal, but it sounds as though Chivas had no bargaining power in this one. If anything, the courtship of Shalrie Joseph will go down as a cautionary tale.

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