SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The New York Red Bulls traded MVP Amado Guevara to Chivas USA on Monday for a designated player slot and a third-round draft pick.
Guevara had eight goals and five assists this season.
''Amado is a tremendous player and his contribution to our team in the past has been undeniable,'' said Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena. ''However, in the long run, by acquiring a second designated player slot as well as a third-round draft pick, it provides us the opportunity and mechanisms to improve our team over the next couple of years.''
The designated player rule was adopted by the league earlier this month to help attract high-profile players into MLS. The new rule gives MLS teams the authority to acquire players outside the $2 million-per-team salary cap.
Arena said trading Guevara was a gamble.
''It puts pressure on our organization to find a player that is better than Amado with that slot,'' Arena said during a conference call. ''Amado is basically the only player we had that anyone else in the league had interest in. But we felt we had to improve this team.''
Arena would not speculate on the designated player spots. Among those speculated to be in contention are Brazilian superstar Ronaldo and former U.S. national captain Claudio Reyna.
''We've been in contact with players, agents and clubs in South America and Europe,'' he said. ''We're doing everything we can possible to strengthen this roster. We obviously have players in mind.''
After joining the then-MetroStars in 2003 from Honduran club CD Motagua, Guevara played 103 regular-season games with the club in four seasons. He earned MLS MVP honors in 2004, with 10 goals and 10 assists.
MLS, which for 11 years paid all players out of a central fund, will be responsible for up to $400,000 of the player's salary, but the rest will paid by the team.
Each team initially will receive one ''designated player'' roster slot, which can be traded among teams. No team will be allowed more than two designated players. The Red Bulls now have two designated player slots and $725,000 worth of room under the salary cap to fill them.
Arena said the trade is good for both teams and for Guevara, in part because of Chivas' large Hispanic following.
''Amado loves the warm weather, so there was a personal side to the trade. It was good for Chivas, good for Amado and if were smart, it was good for us,'' Arena said.
The trade is one of several moves Arena has made in the last week to try to improve a team that finished 9-11-12 last season and was eliminated in the Eastern Conference semifinals by DC United.
The team traded forward Edson Buddle to expansion Toronto for defender Tim Regan, then placed veterans Steve Jolley, Peter Canero, Chris Henderson and goalkeeper Tony Meola on waivers. The Red Bulls also claimed Eric Denton off waivers from Colorado.
''We needed to make this team younger and we felt we had major issues with the salary cap that sort of handcuffed us,'' Arena said. ''There's still a lot of work to do. We weren't going to change this roster overnight.''
Books have yet to release MLS futures odds for the 2007 season.