Defensive makeover continues with pair of trades
Steven Beitashour — the latest defender acquired by Toronto FC to boost its backline — was long on the Reds’ radar.
“We’ve had our eyes set on Steven for a number of, not just months, but years,” the club’s general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said, hours after Toronto announced Beitashour was acquired from the Vancouver Whitecaps for a second-round pick at the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
The Beitashour trade was the first of two acquisitions by Toronto on Friday. The club also picked up Canadian international Will Johnson, a native Torontonian, from the Portland Timbers for a conditional second-round pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft and targeted allocation money.
The pair are the second and third new faces added to Toronto’s roster this week, after free agent Drew Moor, a centre-back, signed Wednesday.
All three additions speak to the club’s focus on improving the team’s defence this off-season, after tying for a league-worst 58 goals against last year.
Beitashour, “one of the best rightbacks in the league” according to Bezbatchenko, will join Moor in Toronto’s back four, likely lining up with Damien Perquis and recently re-signed Justin Morrow.
Similar to Moor, Beitashour said the offer to come to Toronto was too good an opportunity to turn down.
“I’m excited to be a part of Toronto FC now and really looking forward to bring a championship to a club that’s really done a lot to get it, but hasn’t quite gotten over that final step.”
Johnson, who said he’s excited to return to his hometown and play in front of one of the best fan bases in the league, will help protect the backline from higher up the pitch.
Both 28 years old, Beitashour and Johnson are veteran players. The former MLS all-stars have 343 leagues appearances, 29 goals and 30 assists between them.
Beitashour and Johnson made a combined $531,500 last year. The league’s salary cap this year is $3.66 million.
While the two may be new to the squad, both already have personal connections within the team.
Johnson and Bradley are friends. Beitashour and Morrow played together for four years in the San Jose Earthquakes’ defence.
Both Reds pushed Toronto as an option ahead of their friends’ trades.
“I kind of know him. He was at my wedding, so . . .” Beitashour laughed when asked about reuniting with Morrow.
“Yeah, good friends with Justin. He’s one of the people that I talk to on a regular basis. He did have a part in this and I’m glad that he did talk to Tim or whoever else he talked to to kind of get me over there.”