Toronto FC added two key pieces Friday, acquiring Iranian international defender Steven Beitashour from the Vancouver Whitecaps and Canadian international midfielder Will Johnson from the Portland Timbers.
The club hopes Beitashour, a 28-year-old California native whose parents were born in Iran, will fill a void on defence.
"Our team defence and our right back position in particular was an area we wanted to address this off-season," Toronto GM Tim Bezbatchenko said on a media conference call. "In our mind, Steven is one of the top right backs in the league. "
"We've had our eyes set on Steven for a number of not just months but years," he added.
Vancouver received a second-round pick in the trade for Beitashour.
The Toronto-born Johnson, acquired for a second-round pick and allocation money, will be counted on shield the backline while allowing captain Michael Bradley to roam freely.
"We are pleased to add another Canadian international and veteran player with MLS experience that has won two MLS Cups with two different clubs in his career," Bezbatchenko said in a release. "The addition of Will Johnson will help strengthen our goal of developing a winning culture and spirit here at Toronto FC. He represents another significant piece as we continue to build a championship calibre club."
The club continues its search inside and outside the league for a veteran goalkeeper.
In acquiring Beitashour and veteran centre back Drew Moor, who came on board Wednesday, Toronto has significantly upgraded a defence that conceded a league-worst 58 goals last season.
Bezbatchenko also added MLS experience. The two defenders have more than 460 MLS games between them.
"Toronto's doing a lot of good things right now," Beitashour said. "They deserve a winning team and hopefully I can help bring that winning to the club. I'm excited for the next two years."
Toronto tried a variety of players at right back last season with regular left back Justin Morrow the best of the bunch. Mark Bloom had been the incumbent but was hampered by injury.
Morrow and Beitashour will likely flank Moor and Polish international Damien Perquis next season in an improved but costly backline.
The two fullbacks are good friends from their time together at the San Jose Earthquakes, with Morrow attending Beitashour's wedding and lobbying for him to join Toronto.
Beitashour, who made US$197,166 last season, appears to have been too expensive for Vancouver's tastes. The Whitecaps opted not to pick up Beitashour's contract option, making the trade after he opted out of the league's re-entry draft.
"We explored a number of options, as we really wanted to keep Steven at our club, but at the end of the day we were unable to come to an agreement," Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said in a statement. "We felt it was important to receive an asset rather than lose him for nothing in the re-entry draft. This move will also open up significant cap space and in turn provide additional flexibility."
Money never seems to be an issue with Toronto, despite the league's salary cap. The club does not have to sort out its roster until March 1.
Vancouver currently has Costa Rican Jordan Smith at right back and will likely be looking for reinforcements at the position.
Beitashour spent the last two seasons with Vancouver after four years with the Earthquakes, who drafted him in 2010.
In six MLS seasons, Beitashour has made a combined 145 appearances with two goals and 24 assists.
Beitashour was part of Iran's 2014 World Cup squad, serving as an unused substitute in all three matches.
He was called in to train with the U.S. team twice but did not play in a game. He subsequently accepted Iran's call and has won six caps to date.
He said the move to Toronto actually cuts some time off his international duty flights.
Toronto, which got a second-rounder from Philadelphia in exchange for defender/midfielder Warren Creavalle in an earlier trade, gave away its second-highest selection of the second round in January's draft.
