Galaxy’s Stars Will Stay Put

Tuesday, the Galaxy left for Kansas City and tonight’s game with the Wizards, leaving behind no indication that a trade is in the works.

Major League Soccer’s trading deadline is today, and although Galaxy rumors have flown for weeks, it appears that Coach Sigi Schmid will stand pat.

The name of midfield playmaker Mauricio Cienfuegos has been bandied about since the MLS All-Star game July 28, where it was rumored that he and defender Ezra Hendrickson might be sent to the Tampa Bay Mutiny for forward Mamadou Diallo.

That has since been discounted on several fronts.

Galaxy officials acknowledge that Cienfuegos, one of three original players on the team, has not enjoyed his best season. They realize that he will be 34 before next season begins, and they know he commands the league-maximum salary.

But the Salvadoran has contributed so much to Los Angeles’ success since 1996--and is one of the few Galaxy players who demonstrably draws fans to the Rose Bowl--that the team is reluctant to simply cut him lose.

Cienfuegos realizes that his playing days are nearing an end, but would rather retain his maximum salary with another club than take a potentially sizable pay cut in order to stay with the Galaxy.

A trade seems likely, but not this season.

As for Hendrickson, he is on the shopping list of almost every MLS club.

“There are a lot of teams that inquire about Ezra,” said Schmid, who calls Hendrickson “the best outside attacking back in the league.”

He said the Galaxy is not “looking to unload” the captain of the national team of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, however.

The Galaxy will trade one of its two goalkeepers, Kevin Hartman or Matt Reis, but Schmid said that would not happen before the end of the season.