Orlando City SC and Sporting Kansas City have struck a deal! Amobi Okugo will be sent to Kansas City for Servando Carrasco and other considerations that have yet to be disclosed. Both players were in their first season with their respective clubs, and neither was being highly utilized in their respective squads. 

How did they fare with their current clubs?

Okugo started the first nine games of the season for Orlando, but sub-par performances led to his relegation to the bench. Carrasco was acquired by Sporting for midfield depth, but the emergence of Soni Mustivar has limited his minutes. With the likes of Benny Feilhaber, Roger Espinoza, Paulo Nagamura, and Mustivar in the midfield, a new home was the best way for Carrasco to see the field.

Benefits for all parties involved

Peter Vermes, Sporting's manager, gets another young versatile weapon in Okugo. The 24-year-old defensive midfielder is capable of playing multiple positions and looks poised for a quick rebound. Drafted 6th overall in 2010 by the Philadelphia Union, Okugo was a starter by 2012 and retained the spot until his departure. Vermes has a history of turning players' careers around and making them hot commodities. Feilhaber went from out of favor to a potential MVP candidate in just two short years. Kei Kamara had bounced around the league without finding a real home before landing in Kansas City. Roger Espinoza, formerly known as Roger the Red, refined his game and has become one of the hardest working box-to-box midfielders in the league and has learned to control his temper during his years with Vermes. If the same happens with Okugo, this could wind up as a steal rather than a trade.

While Okugo played mainly in the midfield for Orlando City, his likely first role in Kansas City will be as a center back. With Ike Opara out for the season and Kevin Ellis' Jekyll and Hyde play, Okugo is a perfect fit to grab some minutes. As SKC eye a deep run in US Open Cup play, Okugo can also relieve the pressure and give Soni Mustivar a break at the defensive midfielder role.

Adrian Heath's squad in Orlando needed a boost. The MLS debutants have been plagued by injuries in their first season. Enter 26-year-old Servando Carrasco.  The former Seattle Sounders draft pick spent three years in green before heading to Houston for a season. A star at Cal-Berkley, Carrasco just needs a chance to prove his worth and he could lock down a starting role. If he doesn't, Orlando have found a quality sub that can be called upon to start when needed.

For Orlando City, this trade appears to be all about the opportunity. The swap saves Orlando over $200,000 in annual salary as they near the end of the trade window. The move could be a prelude to the rumored Javier "Chicarito" Hernandez deal. If that's the case, Orlando has made the right decision. The Mexican striker best known for his timely goals as a substitute with Manchester United has never been able to lock down a starting role in Europe and Orlando is offering him the chance to be the number one guy. If Chicharito isn't on his way to Orlando, offloading an expensive player that isn't getting starts is a wise move. As it is with all MLS deals, the details about the rest of the trade remain silent. At this time, fans know that allocation money has not been transferred to Orlando, but those funds are still a definite possibility. 

It seems like a good deal 

Overall, this trade appears to be a wash for both clubs at the present time. Sporting is getting a talented young player that could potentially be a major contributor, but the current price tag is steep given his form and the potential to only ever be a substitute. Orlando have freed up some cap space and acquired a midfielder hungry to prove himself, but less highly touted than the player they are giving up. Only time will tell, but this appears like a smart move by both teams at the present time.