As far as trades go, this may be one for the record books.
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League traded Walter Restrepo to the San Antonio Scorpions for “a transfer fee.”
“Transfer fee” sounds a lot like “cash considerations,” which are often included in minor baseball and basketball trades.
In this case, however, “transfer fee” has an entirely different meaning.
In exchange for Restrepo, Fort Lauderdale received hotel and transportation arrangements for the club’s trip to San Antonio for a June 7 game.
The Strikers will be staying at The Crockett Hotel, a business partner of the Scorpions. Normally, the hotel would charge $169 a night to have two men in one room.
Counting 12 rooms for the entire traveling party — including players, coaches and medical staff — and billing for a two-night stay, the Strikers are saving $4,056 in the bargain.
It looks like the Scorpions really wanted to get Restrepo, who scored just two goals in 2013 after tallying six (with eight assists) the season prior. This was included in the statement from San Antonio club president Howard Cornfield:
“The Scorpions would also like to thank Bill Brendel of the Crockett Hotel and Mark Thronson of Shark Limo, two long-term, great partners, for their incredible assistance. It was only through their assistance that we were able to get this deal done.”