The Los Angeles Galaxy bring home 2004 MLS SuperDraft pick Alan Gordon from the San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for Allocation Money. San Jose sold the 32-year-old forward in a move that might lead some to believe that the Earthquakes are giving up on 2014. The real question is "who got the better end of the deal?" Without knowing the amount the Quakes received for Gordon, this will be somewhat difficult to determine, but both teams likely got what they wanted here.

First, the Galaxy needed a signing after the botched deal for Sacha Kljestan at the end of the transfer window. Trading Kofi Opare to DC United and failing to bring in a big signing was nothing short of a disaster for Bruce Arena. Gordon is not only a high profile signing, but he is a player fans are familiar with.

While Gordon doesn't fill the role Opare left in the back, he adds a lot to the defensive effort as a forward. The duo of Gyasi Zardes and Robbie Keane is fantastic, but it is a fast-paced offense that isn't built to hold the ball. LA now has a true target forward which will allow them to slow play down use their midfield to control games. The high pressure attack works well when it works, but solid defensive teams can keep LA off the scoreboard and leave them with no alternative plan of attack.

This signing is a "right now" move for LA. This is Landon Donovan's final season in Major League Soccer and his last run for the MLS Cup. Gordon brings a veteran presence to the team and may be the final piece for a last title for Donovan. The Galaxy's recent playoff woes can partially be attributed to lack of depth at forward and the inability to break down staunch defenses. Gordon's addition to the lineup will change the way LA can play.

This move appears to be the final blow in what has been a very underwhelming and disappointing season for the Earthquakes, but it shouldn't be view as a negative trade. In fact, San Jose may have gotten the better deal here. An aging Gordon is set to make more money after the new CBA and now SJ is costless of any potential raises he may see.

The upcoming off-season is also time for another Expansion Draft in MLS. If Gordon wasn't in the long-term plans for San Jose, allocation money now is better than losing him for costless to New York City FC or Orlando City SC.

His leadership and hold up abilities make him a likely target for either club, even if he is only drafted as a trade commodity. To add to the benefits on trading a player now, the Quakes have one less player to protect and potentially lose, but they also have more money to be able to add key players in the offseason and replace potential losses in the draft. The timing here helps this move make sense.

The striking core in San Jose is also aging with Chris Wondolowski at 31 and Steven Lenhart at 27. Young Adam Jahn is only 23, but hasn't made a huge impact for the team yet. Removing Gordon from this mix requires the Quakes to look for a new forward and they should target a younger player to develop as a long term option.

Regardless of the views, LA has made what might be the best acquisition of the transfer window with Gordon. If he pays off, this move will be nothing short of genius. But if Gordon turns out to be a bust in LA, SJ will make appear to have made out like bandits on this deal as they work on their roster in the off-season. It should also be noted that LA is full of strong young talent and Gordon may not be protected in the Expansion Draft. If he isn't protected and is chosen, the Quakes front office will have made the right move and Arena could easily be under scrutiny for yet another bad trade.

This may be a short stint in LA, and one can only hope it's a good one.