NY acquires Le Toux from Whitecaps

Published Jul. 13, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The New York Red Bulls acquired forward Sebastien Le Toux and goalkeeper Bill Gaudette in a pair of trades on Friday.

The Red Bulls sent Jamaican midfielder Dane Richards and allocation money to Vancouver for the 28-year-old Le Toux, who had four goals and one assist in 19 appearances in his first year with the Whitecaps. Vancouver acquired him in a trade with the Philadelphia Union in January.

''Sebastien is one of the premier attacking players in the League and someone who we have admired for a long time,'' Red Bulls general manager Erik Soler said in a release. ''He will be able to play a number of different positions and will be an important piece for us as we challenge for the MLS Cup this year.''

New York selected Richards with the 19th overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft. He had 21 goals and 26 assists in 147 career appearances with the Red Bulls, including one goal and two assists in 17 games this season.

''Richards is a speedy player and very dangerous down the wing,'' Whitecaps coach Martin Rennie in a statement. ''He brings plenty of MLS and international experience to our club, so we're delighted to have him in Vancouver.''

The Red Bulls acquired Gaudette from Los Angeles in exchange for a draft choice. Gaudette, 30, joined the Galaxy this season, and appeared in three matches (0-2-1). He posted a goals-against average of 1.33.

''Bill is an experienced goalkeeper in American soccer and MLS,'' Soler said. ''He will provide quality competition and guidance for our two young goalkeepers and we are excited to bring him to New York.''

A native of Hummelstown, Pa., Gaudette began his professional career in MLS with the Columbus Crew, who selected him in the 2005 supplemental draft. Gaudette played in college at St John's.

New York surrendered a 2014 supplemental second-round pick in the trade with the Galaxy.