Soccer is a game of split-second decisions. The game moves rapidly, in and out, as just one moment of magic can change the fate of a player, franchise or even community. It’s what endears the game and the players that play it to so many fans as the world around you can seemingly change in the blink of an eye.

The world around two of the league’s most discussed teams changed in the blink of an eye this past week, but the decisions were certainly not made in a single moment. They were made with a look at the long-term, and the clubs involved will be better for it.

On MLS Draft day, the LA Galaxy shocked the MLS community by trading fan favorite AJ DeLaGarza to the Houston Dynamo, ending the relationship between the club and its longest-tenured player. Days later, the New York Red Bulls made a similar move, dealing captain Dax McCarty to the Chicago Fire for a total of $400,000 in allocation money.

In the short-term, the moves will obviously cause some unrest. DeLaGarza was one of the final links to the Galaxy of old, a team that romped through the league on the backs of Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Robbie Keane. Those stars are, most likely, gone for good, as are Omar Gonzalez, Juninho and even Bruce Arena. That era of the Galaxy is undoubtedly over.

The Red Bulls, meanwhile, move a player that has become the face of the franchise since the departure of Thierry Henry. In the years since the rise of NYCFC, McCarty symbolized everything the club stood for: hard-work, effort, passion and, ultimately, success. He was the embodiment of an evolving franchise that was redefining its own place within the league.

The sentimentality of it all hurts, and it will for quite some time, but the logic behind the moves is simple: both trades put the two teams in better positions to succeed in the short and long-term. The Galaxy will undoubtedly use the total $175,000 of allocation money acquired to further bolster a roster in the midst of a rebuild. The Red Bulls now have $400,000 of their own to work with while also freeing plenty of cap room by taking McCarty’s salary off the books.

Still, the question remains: what’s next? For the Red Bulls, that question is much, much clearer. Sean Davis has been ready to make the leap to starter for quite some time, as evidenced by his play down the stretch when McCarty was out with a broken leg. U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team midfielder Tyler Adams also looks poised for a jump to the senior team, giving the Red Bulls an option at both fullback and in the center of the field. Both options are younger, and cheaper, than the 29-year-old McCarty, a player the Red Bulls knew they had to cash in on while the value was still high.

The Galaxy are dealing with several question marks. The club has been linked to Dutch midfielder Gregor Breinburg and even Mexican star Jonathan dos Santos, and the money acquired from the DeLaGarza trade could be vital in getting the former of those deals done. Jermaine Jones also appears likely to be incoming, helping add crazy depth to the Galaxy midfield. Questions remain regarding defensive depth, but Daniel Steres and Jelle Van Damme certainly proved a solid partnership all through last season. The Galaxy will miss DeLaGarza’s versatility, but they also were in need of a cash infusion as the club looks to move from one era to the next.

As for the Dynamo and Fire, the moves add instant legitimacy and leadership to their rebuilding projects. The Dynamo need a culture change after several mediocre years, and DeLaGarza brings that while also adding the ability to play anywhere across the backline. McCarty brings the Fire the experience of the captain while also giving the team plenty of midfield depth alongside options like Matt Polster and Juninho.

That makes both deals a win-win for all involved. They were trades that had to be made, from all parties, as the arms race across MLS continues.