D.C. United sent striker Fabian Espindola to the Vancouver Whitecaps while acquiring Patrick Mullins from New York City FC on Wednesday.
Vancouver sent general allocation money to D.C. for the 31-year-old Espindola, who is a Designated Player.
They replace him with the younger Mullins, who at 24 joins his third team in as many years. NYCFC received general allocation money and an international roster spot in the deal.
Espindola is seventh among active MLS goal scorers with 64 regular-season goals over 10 seasons in the league. He has 73 goals and 42 assists in 252 appearances in all competitions.
"We are thrilled to welcome Fabian to Vancouver," Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said in a statement. "He is a proven goal scorer in this league, always difficult to play against, and knows what it takes to win."
He first joined MLS with Real Salt Lake in 2007. He spent the 2013 season with the New York Red Bulls and the past two and a half seasons with D.C. United. He has started 10 of 15 regular-season games this season, scoring four goals and adding an assist.
The Whitecaps had a DP spot to fill after Octavio Rivero moved to Chilean side Colo-Colo earlier this month.
Mullins has yet to score in seven games as he struggled to break into the NYCFC lineup under Patrick Vieira. He scored six goals in 24 games in 2015.
"Patrick gave his all on the field and in the community, and scored a goal in our historic first ever match at Yankee Stadium that will always be remembered," NYCFC sporting director Claudio Reyna said. "We wish him the best of luck in the next step of his career."
