Galaxy's Buddle signs with German club; Chivas USA declines Romero option

*Word of Edson Buddle's signing with German Budesliga 2 club FC Ingolstadt came down today as I was standing on a Home Depot Center practice field watching a U.S. Men's National Team training session.

I'll have thoughts on the move from the likes of Coach Bob Bradley, Buddle's (now former) Galaxy teammate A.J. DeLaGarza and others in Tuesday's column.

The Galaxy released a press release today (without a quote from Coach Bruce Arena, incidentally, who is down at the MLS Combine in Florida, but I'm told we could get his reaction later today) in response to Buddle's move that included words from their 2010 team MVP who just came off the best MLS season of his career:

"While I have decided to leave the Galaxy, I do so with fond memories of my four years with the club," Buddle said. "I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Los Angeles and will miss my teammates, coaches, staff and everyone who works for the club as they helped make me the player that I am today. I also want to thanks all of the great Galaxy fans who have supported me ever since I arrived at the club and I am hopeful that one day I will be able to return to the Galaxy and help lead them to an MLS Cup championship."

Given his new team's position in their division I predict we could see him back in a matter of months.

Here's the most important stat for Galaxy fans - the team lost just once last season going 13-1-1 when Buddle, scorer of 42 goals in 87 regular season games with LA including a career-high 17 last year, put the ball in the back of the net.

That's going to be hard to replace.

However, negotiations are ongoing with veteran striker Juan Pablo Angel I was told this morning and here's one way to look at it - the Galaxy now have even more room under the salary cap.

The Galaxy lost just once in 2010 when Buddle scored a goal, recording a 13-1-1 record in all competitions.

Buddle, who turns 30 in May, is the fourth highest scorer in Galaxy history and has 90 MLS goals in 231 regular season games with four clubs over the last decade.

*Chivas USA announced Monday that it has declined the contract option on Osael Romero, 24, who was on loan from Vista Hermosa in El Salvador. The Salvadoran midfielder, left, joined Chivas USA just before last season began, making a mere five starts with the team and scoring one goal.

A much-hyped attacking midfielder touted as being in the mold of the Galaxy's Mauricio Cienfuegos, the light-weight Romero was a major disappointment and played just 421 total MLS minutes for Chivas USA.