. Toronto FC striker Robert Earnshaw is in his first season with T

TORONTO -- Toronto FC had no high-profile signing to announce Tuesday, no Diego Forlan or anyone resembling the Uruguay international. But the 2-8-7 MLS team did make a move to create some roster payroll flexibility for a new acquisition, trading attacking midfielder Luis Silva to D.C. United for allocation money. "Its really unfortunate, Luis has been so great for Toronto FC, hes been fantastic," head coach Ryan Nelsen said Tuesday after training. "But theres an opportunity I think, and the money that we get is extremely valuable." Nelsen said, with new players expected to be coming Torontos way, it was a move that was going to be made sooner or later. D.C. United, languishing in the league basement at 2-13-4, hopes Silva can spark an offence that has scored a league-worst eight goals in 19 games. "Luis is an exciting and creative young player with tremendous technical ability," D.C. United GM Dave Kasper said in a statement. "He has shown the capacity to manufacture and score goals." Silva, 24, was the fourth player taken in the 2012 Major League Soccer draft. A college teammate of Uniteds Chris Pontius at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Silva scored seven goals in 54 appearances in all competitions for Toronto. Silva is slated to make US$105,400 this season. Adding allocation money also helps the Toronto bottom line. "I wanted to make it a win for the player and a win for the club," Nelsen said. "Its not an easy decision by any means and I spent a long time contemplating it and thinking about it. Weve got young players that have really stepped up and we didnt know that they were going to, which does help. And obviously with potential additions coming in we needed to free up some cap room to improve the squad." With players away for international duty and with reinforcements yet to arrive, it could leave TFC a little short. The club plays at Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. "Its a wee bit awkward, the timing is not perfect," Nelsen said, "But we had to make a move, it was pretty much on the table, we had to do it. We might be hurting for one or two games but for the long run it will be better for the club." Nelsen did not get into specifics on possible new players. "Everyone is working very hard and hopefully we can get something done pretty soon with numerous players," he said. There has been speculation that among the players Toronto is trying to bring in is Forlan. But Nelsen dodged the question. "Hes contracted with a club, isnt he down in Brazil somewhere?" Nelsen said. "Hes a player who is under contract so I cant really talk about him. But hes a good player." Forlan is playing with Internacional in Brazil and on Monday was quoted as saying that he wanted to stay with that club at least through the 2014 World Cup. Toronto FC striker Robert Earnshaw is in his first season with Toronto FC and the trading of Silva was a reminder of how things can be in MLS with the salary cap. "Its tough," Earnshaw said. "This is what Im learning about this league. "To see a good player not with us and a friend as well, this is what the tough situation is in this league. We wish Luis all the best because hes a great player, a great kid, a great guy. His brain is right. What I mean by that is that he wants to work and he wants to be successful and hes got that drive. "Hell be successful wherever he goes. Hes very much liked in the dressing room." Earnshaw, who missed Torontos 3-3 draw with the Montreal Impact because of an injured calf, said he is ready to return to action Saturday. Earnshaw has been able to resume training after resting the injury. "The last two days have done me very well, just fitness-wise and to get back into the swing of things," he said. "And just the pace of training, Im looking forward to getting into the game on the weekend." NOTES: Defender Richard Eckersley who has been out since early in the season with a hamstring injury is back training and could be ready for Saturdays game ... Striker Danny Koevermans did not training because of a calf injury ... Backup goalkeeper Stefan Frei is in California for visa reasons, according to Nelsen ... Veteran defender Danny Califf, sidelined with a back injury, is with his family in California, Nelsen said, "to re-evaluate things." Cheap Air Max 95 Ireland Discount . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Air Max 95 Ireland Online . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. http://www.discountairmax95ireland.com/ . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Wholesale Air Max 95 Ireland . According the Toronto Star, a knee injury will keep Sundin out of the lineup, which includes former teammates Gary Roberts, Darcy Tucker, Tie Domi and Curtis Joseph. Air Max 95 Ireland Outlet . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. WASHINGTON -- Tanner Roark will start Game 2 for the Washington Nationals in their NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.Its the spot that very likely would have gone to Stephen Strasburg, but he is out for the NLDS after hurting his pitching elbow late in the regular season. On Friday, he had his first bullpen session off a mound since being sidelined.For the right-handed Roark (16-10, 2.83 ERA), the assignment announced Friday represents the latest sign of an impressive return to starting in 2016 after being relegated to the bullpen last season. Lefty Rich Hill (3-2, 1.84 ERA in six starts for LA after a trade from Oakland) will pitch Game 2 for the Dodgers.Emotions already are pretty high right now. ... If youre not nervous, youre not human and you dont care, I feel like, said Roark, who was told Thursday he would pitch in Game 2. So for me, being nervous is a good thing.The choice of Roark was not all that surprising, and Nationals manager Dusty Baker smiled broadly as he joked to media members before Game 1 on Friday: Well, you know, we werent debating that much. We were just kind of messing with you guys, to tell you the truth.In a tweak to his batting order, Baker flipped Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth, moving up 2015 NL MVP Harper from No. 3 to No. 2, and shifting Werth from No. 2 too No.dddddddddddd 3.I just talked to them out of respect, Baker said, but they said, `Hey, Skip, whatever you want to do, and whatever you think thats best, thats what you do.Both teams officially released their 25-man NLDS rosters, and Washingtons includes only seven relievers, including three lefties. Baker said he wanted extra position players on the bench because of the possible need for pinch runners, particularly for second baseman Daniel Murphy, who last started on Sept. 17 because of a strained glute muscle.Reynaldo Lopez is the only long reliever in the bullpen, while Sammy Solis, Oliver Perez and Marc Rzepczynski are the lefties; Sean Burnett is the odd man out.Infielder Wilmer Difo and outfielder Michael A. Taylor made the roster, while relievers Burnett, Matt Belisle and Yusmeiro Petit and outfielders Ben Revere and Brian Goodwin were left off.We contemplated many, many different scenarios, Baker said.The Dodgers roster was as promised, with three catchers: Carlos Ruiz, Yasmani Grandal and Austin Barnes, who can also play in the infield. LA also has only seven relievers.The Game 3 starting pitchers are lefty Gio Gonzalez for Washington, and righty Kenta Maeda for Los Angeles. ' ' '