FC Dallas completes Pedroso “trade” with DC United

FRISCO, TX – AUGUST 04: FC Dallas defender Marquinhos Pedroso (#6) controls the ball during the MLS game between FC Dallas and San Jose Earthquakes on August 4, 2018 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky, 3rd Degree)

FC Dallas has announced the completion of the “trade” of Marquinhos Pedroso to DC United.  FC Dallas and DC United had reportedly agreed to the trade earlier this week but complications arose due to the method FCD used to acquire Pedroso last season which made him untradeable for a year after his acquisition.

As a consequence of the complication, FC Dallas was forced to waive Pedroso, who has a guaranteed contract, allowing DC United to pick him up off waivers.  By MLS rule, a guaranteed contract player can only be waived with league permission and the club claiming the player must stipulate how much of the player’s guaranteed contract they are going to pick up.

Dallas did officially make a trade with DC United, they sent $100k of General Allocation Money to DC for United’s natural first-round pick.  Dallas will also, reportedly, not be paying any of Pedroso’s salary going forward.

Pedroso, 25, joined FC Dallas on July 5, 2018, and appeared in 15 matches over two seasons for FC Dallas. He made his MLS debut on July 28, 2018, in the 3-2 win vs. Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park helping FC Dallas earn its first victory in Kansas City since 2011.

3rd Degree’s Take

Pedroso, while respected by both players and coaches in Dallas, wasn’t a great fit for new Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez’s system.  He had lost out to Ryan Hollingshead and was beginning to fall behind rookie left back John Nelson.

So for FC Dallas, this deal is all about clearing Pedroso’s contract off their books and opening up an international slot.  Both the coaching staff, generically, and the club’s ownership, specifically mentioning Bayern Munich, have been talking about plans for the season’s summer transfer window.  This move is almost certainly part of preparing the roster for that window.

This $100k Dallas sent to DC was, in effect, the way Dallas is offsetting some of Pedroso’s remaining contract.

Pedroso did have some value, of course. At 26 he’s still quite a good player and as a defensive first outside back, one who can get to the end and cross pretty well.  He’s an asset many teams might want.

But his guaranteed contract made him harder to move, so in the end, Dallas only gets a first round pick in return.  DC is likely to finish near the top of the East so the pick will be late in the first round. Given the FCD Academy and North Texas SC pipeline, the pick’s value isn’t high for this club.

Bottom line? FC Dallas effectively traded $100k in GAM to clear Pedroso’s contract off the cap and open an international slot.

The Transaction

Full Name: Marquinhos Pedroso
Date of Birth: October 4, 1993
Hometown: Florianópolis, Brazil
Birthplace: Tubarão, Brazil
Height: 5-10
Weight: 170
Position: Defender
Nationality: Brazil
Transaction: FC Dallas acquires D.C. United’s natural first round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for $100,000 in GAM. FC Dallas also waives defender Marquinhos Pedroso.

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