IN AGREEMENT Red Bulls agree to deal Martin to Rapids for Peguero, look to send Arvizu, Danilo west
Colorado Rapids forward Jean Philippe Peguero could wind up as a member of the Red Bulls if the trade goes through. Photo courtesy of the Colorado Rapids
By Michael Lewis and Dylan Butler
BigAppleSoccer.com Editors
The New York Red Bulls have agreed to trade forward Thiago Martins to the Colorado Rapids for Haitian international forward Jean Philippe (Pedro) Peguero, according to knowledgeable MLS sources.
The deal also would include the Red Bulls sending to the Rapids a first-round pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft and a third-round choice, sources said. That third-round pick is conditional. If Peguero does well, it could be upgraded to a second-round selection, sources said.
Given the events of the past week and month, this deal still could unravel for several reasons:
* The trade is contingent on another move the Red Bulls want to make with an MLS club, sources close to the team said on Friday. That deal would send U.S. Under-17 forward David Arvizu and defender Danilo da Silva to either C.D. Chivas or the Los Angeles Galaxy for draft picks, sources around the league said. Chivas coach Bob Bradley, who directed the MetroStars last year, is said to covet Arvizu and da Silva.
* The Peguero deal is subject to league approval, sources said.
* And it is not known whether Red Bull New York officials have given their stamp of approval on the deal.
The Red Bulls and Rapids talked about a possible deal in late March, but it fell through.
The trade was agreed upon in theory Tuesday but was turned down by Red Bull because of Mo Johnston's shaky status as coach at the time.
Peguero, 24, has an assist in two games over 168 minutes this season for the Rapids (1-1-1), who have a bye week this weekend.
Peguero, who has appeared 10 times for the Haitian National Team, scored seven goals and assisted on six others for the Rapids last season. He converted the winning penalty kick in the shootout against F.C. Dallas to boost the Rapids into the Western Conference final.
The 6-2, 185-pound Peguero scored the first goal for Haiti -- a penalty kick -- in the first-leg of its aggregate goals World Cup qualifying series. Haiti defeated the Turks and Caicos Islands, 5-0.
On Feb. 8, the Red Bulls, then known as the MetroStars won the weighted lottery for the rights to Arvizu. Arvizu joined Generation Adidas after a breakout year with the U.S. U-17s, finishing tied for fourth with eight goals and six assists, including two goals in 13 international appearances.
