Michael Harrington Traded to Colorado Rapids for Allocation Money

The Portland Timbers lost a key player from their successful 2013 campaign today after sending fullback Michael Harrington to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for an unnamed quantity of allocation money.

Harrington was one of the team's most consistent contributors two years ago when the Timbers won the Western Conference and made their only playoff appearance since joining Major League Soccer. Playing 33 games and leading the team with 2951 minutes played, Harrington was a steady presence on the left for the Timbers.

With the ascension of the Timbers' two youngsters, Alvas Powell and Jorge Villafana, at fullback in 2014, however, Harrington saw his minute begin to decline. He still started 21 matches in 2014, but the number could easily have been less if it were not for a series of injuries that kept Villafana from taking the starting spot earlier in the season in the midst of the Timbers' defensive struggles.

Harrington was likely to be left exposed in the upcoming expansion draft and was widely believed to be one of the players the Timbers would lose to Orlando City SC or New York City FC.

The Timbers' press release:

TIMBERS ACQUIRE ALLOCATION MONEY FROM COLORADO IN EXCHANGE FOR DEFENDER MICHAEL HARRINGTON

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have acquired allocation money from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for defender Michael Harrington, it was announced today. Per league and club policy, terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

Harrington, 28, played in 25 of 34 league games in 2014, logging 1,749 minutes and two assists. The Greenville, N.C., native has played eight seasons in MLS with Sporting Kansas City (2007-12) and Portland after entering the league as a first-round pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft from the University of North Carolina.