FC Dallas surprised MLS when it swapped homegrown midfielder Kellyn Acosta for forward Dominique Badji in the summer.
The move was designed to help FCD win now, and with a glut of central midfielder and a lack of attacking power up top, the team made the difficult decision to part ways with a player who had spent a decade with the team.
The move also was taken with the idea of giving Acosta a fresh start and jump-starting a career that while promising had stagnated. It worked. Acosta is back in the United States national team picture and is one of the Rapids most important players.