Portland Timbers Bring in Brad Ring from San Jose as Needed Reinforcement

With next to no players available after being hit by injuries, suspensions, and international call-ups, the Timbers finally made a move today, bringing in midfielder Brad Ring from the San Jose Earthquakes. Rarely used over the last two years by San Jose (5 games played in 2012 and 2013 combined), the Timbers were able to pick up Ring for a bargain basement price, only giving up their lowest pick in the 2014 Superdraft.

Ring is primarily a defensive-minded midfielder, but he has also been known to fill in on the defensive line for San Jose, making one start for them in the US Open Cup at right back last year. Caleb Porter will certainly be familiar with Ring's capabilities, as Ring played at Indiana while Porter was an assistant coach there.

Given the Timbers' current personnel crisis, this looks like a smart move to pick up a capable backup for Ben Zemanski. The Timbers need bodies right now that can step in and play at an MLS level and Ring gives the Timbers just that, even if the Earthquakes lost every time that he has stepped onto the field for them this season.

Making way for Ring is Ryan Miller, who will miss the rest of the season thanks to surgery necessitated by a stress fracture in his left leg.

TIMBERS ACQUIRE MIDFIELDER/DEFENDER BRAD RING FROM SAN JOSE IN EXCHANGE FOR 2014 DRAFT PICK
Defender Ryan Miller to undergo surgery for season-ending leg injury

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have acquired midfielder/defender Brad Ring from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for a 2014 draft pick, it was announced today. The pick will be Portland’s lowest draft pick in 2014.

Additionally, the club announced that defender Ryan Miller will undergo surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left tibia in the coming weeks. He is expected to be out for four months and will be placed on the season-ending injury list.

Ring, 26, was drafted by San Jose in the second round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and has played in 37 regular-season matches as both a midfielder and defender for the Earthquakes since 2010. He appeared in a career-high 21 matches during the 2011 campaign, including 17 starts and recorded one assist.

A native of Rockford, Ill., Ring had a standout collegiate career at Indiana University, where he was a two-time MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in 2007 and 2008. He played in 78 career matches for the Hoosiers, helping lead the team to four consecutive NCAA tournament berths, and was named both an All-Big Ten first-team selection and NSCAA All-American third-team pick as a senior in 2008.

Miller, 28, has played in seven regular-season matches with the Timbers this season, making four starts. He aided in back-to-back shutouts against the LA Galaxy on June 19 on the road and at home against the Colorado Rapids on June 23. Miller started all four of Portland’s matches during the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, helping the club reach the semifinal, and has appeared in nine matches with the Timbers Reserves in 2013.

Brad Ring
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
Born: April 7, 1987, in Rockford, Ill.
Hometown: Rockford, Ill.
Last Club: San Jose Earthquakes
College: Indiana University
Citizenship: United States
Acquired: Via trade with the San Jose Earthquakes, in exchange for Portland’s lowest draft pick in 2014.