Fire trade rookie Bakero to Toronto for Hasler
The Chicago Fire and Toronto FC agreed to a trade Friday that will send rookie forward Jon Bakero and $50,000 in General Allocation Money to Toronto in exchange for defender and midfilder Nicolas Hasler. The Fire get help at a position of need with Hasler, who should slot in as the starting right back immediately. The native of Liechtenstein has started 11 of 14 games this season and has recorded three assists. He signed with Toronto last summer, starting nine of 10 games played in 2017 and appearing in two playoff games. Bakero heads to Toronto after the Fire made aggressive moves to acquire him in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. Chicago sent goalkeeper Matt Lampson, $75,000 in General Allocation Money, $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and the 15th pick to Minnesota United in order to move up to the fifth pick and select Bakero. Bakero, a native of Spain and former college star at Wake Forest, played just 75 minutes in four appearances with Chicago, and 45 of those minutes came in his first professional start last Saturday against FC Dallas. He also made three appearances for the USL's Tulsa Roughnecks, recording two goals and an assist. Chicago (6-10-5, 23 points) is in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, four points out of the final playoff spot. Toronto (4-11-4, 16 points) is in tenth place in the East. The two teams play each other Saturday at Toyota Park in Chicago and again at BMO Field in Toronto next Saturday. --Field Level Media
