D.C. United trades homegrown forward Michael Seaton to the Portland Timbers

In a surprising move, Steve Goff of the Washington Post tells us that D.C. United is trading homegrown forward Michael Seaton to the Portland Timbers. Even more surprising is the fact that United is receiving an international roster spot and targeted allocation money; TAM is only good for adjusting the cap charges of designated player level salaries, and United is not typically in the market for those kinds of players. An international roster spot also makes it seem like another move is in the offing, so we shall see what happens in the next 80 minutes or so until the transfer window closes.

Michael Seaton was signed out of the academy with a lot of promise, but seemed to have grown frustrated. He had been loaned to the Richmond Kickers, where he started to find some form, but another loan there this season had been apparently ruled out. His loan this season to Sweden did not turn out well, and the team apparently failed to find another place to which to loan him. With the acquisition of Alvaro Saborio, Seaton had fallen even further down the depth chart, and United figured they could get something they could use for him.

If United does not use the targeted allocation money this year, it will roll over to next year; however, they will have to start either spending it or trading it at that point. What do you think of this move? Do you think it is the prelude to a bigger move?