San Jose Earthquakes exchange defender Brandon McDonald with D.C. United for allocation money

The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that they have traded defender Brandon McDonald to D.C. United in exchange for allocation money. McDonald began his career in MLS in 2008, originally with the Los Angeles Galaxy, and has been a member of the Earthquakes since the start of the 2009 season. He has made 58 appearances with the Quakes in his two-plus years in San Jose, primarily as a central defender, and has scored three goals and three assists.

According to information from the Major League Soccer Players Association, McDonald has been earning the league minimum salary in each of his four seasons as a professional. McDonald is in the last year of his current deal and has stated in the past his intentions to seek a pay raise in his next contract. Earlier this season, with the team struggling to collect points, McDonald lost his starting spot to defender Bobby Burling, and he has made only two appearances in the last month with the first team.

The deal gives the Earthquakes some flexibility when it comes to the upcoming summer transfer window for MLS signings that opens up July 15. Not only does San Jose save McDonald’s salary number against the team’s salary budget, but the addition of allocation money from D.C. United makes the deal worth even more to a team that reportedly has little cap space available to add players to the roster. With El Salvadoran midfielder Jaime Alas reportedly headed to San Jose on trial, the trade of McDonald opens up the opportunity to sign the dynamic international this summer.