Toronto FC announced Tuesday that they have traded forward Alecko Eskandarian to Real Salt Lake for forward Jeff Cunningham and a first round 2008 MLS SuperDraft pick.
Eskandarian joined Toronto FC December 22, 2006 after a trade with D.C. United.</p>
"We've been after Cunningham for a long time," said Head Coach Mo Johnston. "For me, he's someone who has something different in this league. He has pace of probably the fastest striker within the league in terms of being right up front. He can create goals out of nothing, and it was something different that we needed."</p>
Cunningham, 30, is a MLS veteran after joining the league in 1998 with the Columbus Crew when he was selected in the first round (9th overall) in the 1998 MLS College Draft.</p>
Playing in his 10th MLS season, Cunningham already has 3 goals this season. He scored twice in RSL's season opener against Dallas, and his most recent goal came May 5th against Red Bull New York.</p>
"Listen, Alecko is a tremendous player, he'll score goals in this league," said Head Coach Mo Johnston, "but when you look at someone like Cunningham, everyone pays a price, and unfortunately Alecko paid the price. Nine times out of ten you'll keep Alecko, but for me it was something we had to do."</p>
The Jamaican born striker has scored 93 goals in MLS, a number that puts him fourth on the League's all-time scoring list. Last season Cunningham scored a career-best tying 16 goals, was named as an MLS MVP finalist and MLS Best XI team member, and received the Budweiser MLS Golden Boot Award.</p>
His 11 assists were the second most in MLS in 2006, and he was a top ten finisher in a number of categories including game-winning goals, multi-game goals, and penalty kick goals.</p>
Cunningham will sport number 74 on his jersey, a change from the number 90 he wore in Salt Lake. </p>
