The Portland Timbers continued to rebuild their roster Wednesday.

Toronto FC traded goalkeeper MiloÅ¡ Kocić and forward Ryan Johnson to the Timbers for goalkeeper Joe Bendik and Portland’s highest first-round pick in the 2013 SuperDraft.

Kocić, a 27-year-old Serbian, played almost the entire season for Toronto after expected starter Stefan Frei suffered a broken fibula and ligament damage in a training accident at the beginning of the season. Johnson, a 28-year-old Jamaican who attended Oregon State, had seven goals and five assists for Toronto in 2012.

Bendik, 23, will provide cover as Frei returns from injury. Toronto’s backup goalkeeper Freddy Hall was released. The trade could mean the end of 35-year-old goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts’ time in Portland as his salary makes him an unlikely backup.

At this point, Toronto has the No. 1 and No. 3 overall picks in the SuperDraft, although Soccer By Ives reported they are trying to trade the top pick.

Another trade involving Portland flew under the radar but could potentially be important. Chivas USA traded their second spot in the allocation order for the Timbers’ third spot with Chivas USA also getting a second-round SuperDraft pick if they acquire one or an international spot.

The allocation order determines which teams have first choice of former Major League Soccer players returning the league and U.S. internationals. The Timbers trading up one spot could mean they expect a player of interest to join MLS.

Earthquakes Trade Opara to Sporting KC, Several Player Re-Signed
Sporting Kansas City traded a second-round pick in the 2013 SuperDraft for San Jose Earthquakes defender Ike Opara.

Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said in a team statement that they had considered drafting Opara three years ago. The 23-year-old former U.S. U-23 national team member was the third overall pick in the 2010 SuperDraft. He has made 36 career appearances for the Earthquakes.

Opara’s 2010 and 2011 seasons were cut short by injuries. When he played, he made youthful mistakes at time but also showed his talent as one of the more promising young defenders in the league. He even scored two goals in his first three matches as a professional.

Sporting KC also re-signed Matt Besler to a new contract. The 2012 MLS Defender of the Year and Kansas native reportedly had interest from Europe but decided to stay closer to home.

The Houston Dynamo also re-signed four players that were key to their run to the 2012 MLS Cup final. Goalkeepers Tally Hall, 27, and Tyler Deric, 24, and midfielders Brad Davis, 31, and Adam Moffat, 26, had their contracts extended.

The Montreal Impact announced that 28-year-old midfielder Justin Mapp will return next season. He was initially listed as available for the Re-Entry Draft but had his name removed.

Several Players Linked to MLS Moves
As is typical this time of year, numerous rumors regarding international signings have also surfaced. Oussama Essabr, 23, a Moroccan midfielder who came up in the Juventus youth system but never made the first team, is reportedly close to signing with the Impact.

Ecuadorian striker Claudio Bieler, who plays for LDU Quito, is headed to Sporting KC, according to some reports. The 28-year-old Argentine-born forward is a prolific scorer who averages more than a goal every two games.

The Seattle Sounders are reportedly close to signing two members of the Honduras Olympic team. Defenders Wilmer Crisanto and José Velásquez Colón, both 23, play for Victoria in Honduras, and the club president tweeted Wednesday that both players will join the Sounders.

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