Austin FC announced on Monday that Jared Stroud, part of the 2020 MLS Expansion Draft class and a contributor during his two years with Austin FC – but more so in the club's inaugural season – has been traded to expansioneers St. Louis City SC.
According to the club, Stroud is moving to St. Louis — which will begin play in 2023 — for $100,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM).
“We’d like to thank Jared for his contributions to the Club during its first two seasons, and we wish him all the best in the next stage of his career,” said Austin FC Sporting Director Claudio Reyna by way of press release.
The 26-year-old Stroud made 27 appearances, 13 of those starts, during his two years with the club, though all 13 starts came in 2021. He tallied his sole goal in the last home match in 2021, a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City.
Stroud only played 41 minutes for Verde in 2022, contrasted with 1167 minutes in 2021. His last appearance in Verde came in a brief sub turn on July 16 in the club's Copa Tejas-clinching 1-1 draw vs. FC Dallas.
The trade, combined with Austin FC announcing that the club had declined Danny Hoesen's 2023 option, likely means that there won't be any players on the roster next year from the 2020 expansion draft. Goalkeeper Brady Scott departed last offseason and was selected by the Columbus Crew in the Re-Entry Draft. Kamal Miller was traded to Montreal for $225,000 in GAM and a first-round draft pick that became Freddy Kleemann, and Joe Corona's rights were acquired by Houston before Austin FC could sign him.
