After receiving a call into U.S. Men’s National Team’s camp on Jan. 5 -- his first since 2011 -- McCarty got married in Florida on Jan. 14 and took just one personal day before flying to California to join up with then–head coach Bruce Arena’s side. The day he arrived -- Jan. 16 -- it was announced that he’d been traded from the New York Red Bulls, where he’d served as captain for the last two seasons.
The Fire had acquired McCarty in exchange for $400,000 in General Allocation Money, who figured to immediately help bolster a midfield that had already added three-time MLS Cup winner Juninho in December, and would sign World Cup-winner Bastian Schweinsteiger in late March.