Edson Buddle To L.A.?

According to Goal.com, the Los Angeles Galaxy are prepared to trade defender Tyrone Marshall to Toronto FC in exchange for forward Edson Buddle.
Marshall, 32, has been with the Galaxy since 2002, appearing in 119 games and scoring three goals. He was a part of both Galaxy championships (2002, 2005) and was also named to MLS Best XI in '05. He has also made 59 appearances for the Jamaican national team, scoring twice. In what could shape up to be his last game with the Galaxy, Marshall was sent off last Saturday against FC Dallas for a hard tackle that broke Kenny Cooper's shin.
Buddle, 26, has 48 goals to his credit since 2001. If the trade rumor is substantiated, the Galaxy would become Buddle's fourth team in a little over a year. His most productive stint was with the Columbus Crew, for whom he scored 42 goals in 106 appearances from 2001 - 2005. Buddle pleaded guilty to drunken driving in 2005, causing him to miss games for violating the MLS substance abuse and behavioral health policy.

Marshall, a key part of the porous Galaxy defense in 2007, could be replaced by Abel Xavier, the veteran defender who last played for Middlesbrough in the EPL. Xavier has been cleared to play in his first MLS game this Sunday when the G's meet fellow cellar-dwellers Real Salt Lake.

Buddle has appeared in 10 games for Toronto this year, starting five of them, and has failed to score a goal. He has seen his playing time decrease after the emergence of Danny Dichio and Jeff Cunningham.

TJ's take: The Galaxy are still searching for an international forward that can score goals, with Carlos Ruiz, Carlos Pavon and Joaozinho all coming up in discussion. Buddle has shown some flashes of greatness but has not been able to sustain that for any prolonged period in his career. Still, bringing in a 26-year-old forward with promise in exchange for a 32-year-old defender whose skills have diminished steadily over the past year has to be seen as a good deal, if the rumors are true.