Union consider trading Califf

AT THE end of the Union's Sunday matinee with Red Bull New York, Danny Califf was still a member of the franchise.

That might not be the case by the time you read this.

The Union has entertained a pair of offers from Chivas USA for its captain, according to Union manager Peter Nowak. The Union rejected an initial offer and Chivas then made a counteroffer that the Union is currently weighing.

Rumors of a potential move hit the blogosphere Saturday, and following Sunday's match, much of it was brought to light.

"Danny Califf's status is that we received an offer for him this last week and we informed the player right after it happened," Nowak said. "I talked to Danny . . . but we did not conclude anything, so as of right now he is still with us."

Califf missed his fifth match of the season against New York, because, according to Nowak, he is still hampered with injury issues from offseason knee surgery and a hamstring he strained last month. Califf missed a few practice sessions last week and was "not 100 percent ready for" the game against RBNY, Nowak said.

Attempts to reach Califf were unsuccessful and he was not in the team's locker room after the 3-2 loss. If the deal were to be complete, Califf would return to the pitch in which he debuted in MLS, the Home Depot Center, but that was during a 5-year stint with the Los Angeles Galaxy (2000-04).

Califf started 35 matches for the Union, including both of its playoff appearances, since joining the team shortly after the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft. He led a Union defense last season that finished second in the league in goals against average (1.06) and had 10 shutouts. A California native, Califf would be the second Union captain to return to where his career began, mimicking goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who left in the offseason to play in his native Colombia.

"For me it is something that happens in football - it's a part of life," midfielder Keon Daniel said. "We [as a team] have to deal with it and get stronger.''