CHICAGO, I.L. - The Chicago Fire announced Friday that the club has used a Discovery option to sign former Cuban International forward Rey Angel Martinez to a Major League Soccer contract. The Fire then traded Martinez to the Colorado Rapids in return for a conditional selection in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft.
"This trade will help a team in the other conference this year, but it will provide the Fire with another pick in the first half of next year's SuperDraft, which will help the Fire in our efforts to maintain a competitive team on an ongoing basis," said Fire general manager Peter Wilt.
Martinez, 24, was on trial with the Rapids for a two-week stint in April. The former Cuban international made headlines in February of 2002 when, as a 20-year-old, he and a teammate on the Cuban national team defected to the United States while the squad was competing in Los Angeles during the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
TRANSACTION: Chicago Fire sends discovery player Rey Angel Martinez to Colorado Rapids for a conditional second round 2005 MLS SuperDraft selection.
