D.C. United pick up Alvaro Saborio in trade with Real Salt Lake

In need of consistency from the forward position, D.C. United traded for Mr. Consistency. On Thursday the club announced that it had picked up forward Alvaro Saborio from Real Salt Lake in exchange for midfielder-forward Luis Silva.

Saborio, who is currently on international duty with Costa Rica at the Gold Cup, is considered to be one of the top goalscorers in all of Major League Soccer. Since joining RSL in 2010 Saborio has scored 63 goals in 127 matches. He is the team’s all-time leading goalscorer and is ninth among of active players in terms of goals scored. He helped lead the team to the 2014 MLS Cup and to the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League Final.

Although D.C. United (10-6-5, 35 points) currently find themselves in first place in the Eastern Conference with a comfortable nine point advantage over the Columbus Crew SC (7-7-6, 27 points) the club has struggled to find goals as of late. United has scored just two goals in their past five matches and has scored more than two goals just once this season ( a 3-1 win over Chicago last month). Their five goals away from home is also the lowest in the league and a worrying sign for a team with playoff and cup aspirations.

Injuries and suspensions have plagued United at the forward position. Since the start of the season the club has been forced to go with a forward by committee approach. Last season’s leading scorer, Fabian Espindola, has played in just nine matches because of injuries and suspensions. Espindola’s absence, coupled with injuries to Silva, Eddie Johnson, and Chris Pontius has limited United’s attack. United coach Ben Olsen has frequently used Chris Rolfe (6 goals) and Jairo Arrieta (5 goals) up front to modest success.

Once Saborio’s term with Costa Rica is done (they will be playing Mexico on Sunday in the Gold Cup Quarterfinals) he will likely be inserted directly into the starting lineup. If Olsen chooses to use a 4-4-2 expect Saborio to paired with either Rolfe or Espindola up top. Espindola and Saborio do have experience working with another at RSL between 2010 and 2012.

Silva, 26, had his best season of his professional career with United in 2014 scoring eleven goals and tallying four assists. Playing behind Espindola in Olsen’s 4-4-1-1, he provided the club with pace and an excellent second option up front.

But injuries have plagued his United career ever since being acquired by United from Toronto FC in 2013. His 2014 campaign was cut short because of a hamstring injury and he has made just four starts this season because of a similar injury. Although he was practicing with the club Silva became expendable due to the play of Aguilar.

According figures released last year by the MLS Players Union, Saborio earns about $453,333 a year and was on a Designated Player contract with RSL. Adding Saborio would fill up United’s three Designated Player spots (Espindola and Johnson are the other two) and add about $319,000 to the club’s cap (Silva’s salary is about $134.440 a year).

D.C. United will return to action on Saturday night against FC Dallas (8:30PM MLS Live).