Whitecaps deal Tim Parker to Red Bulls for Felipe, $500K of TAM

The Vancouver Whitecaps sent established MLS defender Tim Parker to the New York Red Bulls in exchange for midfielder Felipe and $500,000 in Targeted Allocation Money, the two sides announced Friday.

The Whitecaps will now have a bit more flexibility under the salary cap, receiving $225,000 of TAM this season and $275,000 for the 2019 campaign.

TSN's Kristian Jack reports that a breakdown in negotiations over a new contract led to Parker's departure.

The 25-year-old's deal was set to expire in December.

In acquiring Felipe, the Whitecaps have now made 11 additions during a busy off-season. The wheeling and dealing is in direct response to a disappointing defeat to the Seattle Sounders in the semifinals of last year's playoffs. Carlo Robinson's men failed to record a goal against the Sounders over two legs.

Felipe will certainly help in the scoring department. The tricky Brazilian has registered at least five assists in each of his six seasons in MLS with the Red Bulls and Montreal Impact, and is now set to pair on-loan Crystal Palace pivot Jordon Mutch in the heart of midfield.

"Felipe has consistently proven to be one of the best box-to-box midfielders in Major League Soccer," Robinson said in a statement. "He's fiercely competitive, very comfortable on the ball, and creative going forward. We firmly believe he's someone that will make the players around him better, and we're delighted to add him to our group in the prime of his career."