The Colorado Rapids selected former New York Red Bull Mike Grella during Stage 1 of Major League Soccer's re-entry draft on Friday and then promptly traded him to Columbus Crew SC for a second-round pick in the 2019 SuperDraft.
Grella, 30, spent the last three seasons with the New York Red Bulls, but his contract option was not picked up thus making him available for the re-entry draft.
The former Leeds United player scored 16 goals and 13 assists in his first two seasons at Red Bull Arena, but injuries limited him over the course of the 2017 campaign.
Minnesota United was also active in the re-entry draft, selecting veteran defender Tyrone Mears, whose option was not picked up by Atlanta United.
Mears played on the Seattle Sounders' MLS Cup-winning team in 2016 before joining up with expansion Atlanta in 2017.
Stage 2 of the MLS re-entry draft, in which teams can renegotiate contracts with selected players, is set for Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. ET.
