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The New York Red Bulls announced on Monday morning that the club has traded left winger Austin da Luz to DC United as part of the deal which sent an international spot to New York at the end of last week. The club has also arranged for goalkeeper Greg Sutton to spend the rest of the season on loan with NASL side Montreal Impact.
The Red Bulls picked up da Luz, who had played for four years at Wake Forest, in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. A string of injuries and competition for places restricted him to just two appearances last season, both in the US Open Cup. His first league start came in late May against the Vancouver Whitecaps, and he featured in seven league matches and two Cup games in 2011, scoring one goal against the Portland Timbers.
Sutton arrived for his latest stint in New York (he was a MetroStars player in 1999, but failed to make a league appearance for the club) at the beginning of the 2010 season after being released by Toronto FC. He started several league games when Bouna Coundoul was missing due to international duty, and became Hans Backe's first-choice goalkeeper at the beginning of the current season.
A concussion kept him out for a few games after the league opener against Seattle, but he has been far from convincing since his return, giving up a number of soft goals, including a catastrophic blunder away to the Sounders. The Impact, who will join MLS next season, will recieve him on loan if he clears waivers.
It is unclear whether these two deals were intended to lay the groundwork for the signing of German goalkeeper Frank Rost, which New York completed last Wednesday, or for another new signing on his way to Red Bull Arena.