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Real Salt Lake has acquired Chivas USA defender Douglas Sequeira and another player in exchange for Brian Dunseth, one of the few mainstays for the expansion team in its inaugural season.
"It's fair to say Brian was a warrior this season," RSL general manager Steve Pastorino said. "He was definitely a guy we could count on as much as anybody in our back four.
"This is a little bittersweet."
But, Pastorino said the club couldn't resist Sequeira, a tall, physical defender who joined Los Angeles-based Chivas from Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica. The native Costa Rican started all 23 games he appeared in for Chivas and scored two goals.
"To get a player of Sequeira's ability and experience was an opportunity we couldn't pass up," Pastorino said.
RSL also acquired 18-year-old midfielder Christian Jimenez in exchange for Dunseth. Jimenez was the second selection in the
MLS SuperDraft last year, and was on a developmental contract with Chivas.
Pastorino also said RSL traded its 2007 supplemental draft pick to the Kansas City Wizards in exchange for midfielder Diego Walsh. Walsh has been working out with RSL for several weeks.
Dunseth appeared in 24 games - all of them starts - for RSL. He scored RSL's first goal at Rice-Eccles Stadium, giving the team its first-ever win, 1-0 over Colorado in its home opener on April 16.
Chivas, the league's other expansion team, finished last in the Western Conference, one spot behind RSL. Chivas is owned by Mexican soccer giant Chivas of Guadalajara, Mexico, which also owns Saprissa, Sequeira's former team.
The Goats' philosophy this season - South American-style soccer using players mostly from Latin America - drew frequent criticism, and they fired their coach midway through the season.