Dynamo working out deal with Impact to bring Ching back

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With permission from the Montreal Impact, Major League Soccer and the players' union, Brian Ching returned to Houston on Monday in hopes of reworking his one-year contract so he can be traded to the Dynamo.

Monday evening, the Impact and Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear were ironing out the exchange for the Dynamo's all-time leading scorer, who was picked by Montreal in the MLS expansion draft on Nov. 23.

There was enough progress in the negotiations for the involved parties to allow the former U.S. national team striker to attempt to rework a deal with the Dynamo.

"We think there's light at the end of the tunnel in terms of what a trade agreement or what a trade with Montreal would look like," Dynamo president Chris Canetti said. "Given the nature of those talks, we've been given permission to gauge those talks with Brian's agent about restructuring his contract to work him in under the salary cap."

Ching, who had the Dynamo's first goal in 2006 and the team's last at Robertson Stadium in the 2011 playoffs, scored 51 goals while leading the team to three MLS Cup finals and two titles in six years.

Ching, 33, has 77 goals over 10 MLS seasons.

Guaranteed deal

BOB LEVEY: GETTY IMAGES GAMBLE: The Dynamo made Brian Ching available for the expansion draft, hoping he's too expensive for the new team. BOB LEVEY: GETTY IMAGES GAMBLE: The Dynamo made Brian Ching available for the expansion draft, hoping he's too expensive for the new team. Photo: Bob Levey Photo: Bob Levey Image 1 of / 11 Caption Close Dynamo working out deal with Impact to bring Ching back 1 / 11 Back to Gallery

His 2012 contract became guaranteed as soon as he started the 2011 MLS Cup final against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Because Ching's $450,000 salary is one of the tops in MLS for non-designated players, Kinnear left his veteran unprotected in the expansion draft while gambling Montreal wouldn't want to pay the salary.

A day before the expansion draft, Ching said he would retire rather than play for Montreal if picked. Impact coach Jesse Marsch selected Ching, a native of Hawaii, and named him his top selection.

Slow process

"We have the utmost respect for Brian, both as a player and a person," Marsch told reporters at the expansion draft. "He made it clear he does not want to come here, but we think he represents good value. There are teams in the league who think the same thing. I want to consider what is best for Brian's future, but I also want to consider what is best for the future of our club."

Neither club rushed to make a trade. They finally talked early last month at the MLS combine in Florida and again at the MLS SuperDraft.

By then, Ching had reached out to the union to see if he could rework his deal if the Dynamo acquired him.

Because the collective bargaining agreement bars players from renegotiating their guaranteed contracts to take pay cuts as conditions for remaining with a team, Ching sought and received permission from the players' union.

Salary cap a factor

Ching is guaranteed about $200,000 more than the Dynamo want to spend on him as they try to stay under the MLS salary cap.

The union is likely to approve a pay cut in a new contract because of the value perceived in the front-office job Ching has been guaranteed after he retires, perhaps as early as next year.

"We're still having talks with Montreal and also with Brian's agent," Kinnear said Monday. "I hope it leads to something good."

jesus.ortiz@chron.com

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