Chivas finally looks ready to share

With a week to go before the start of the Mexican Clausura 2009 season, Chivas de Guadalajara won InterLiga, earning a berth in the Copa Libertadores and suddenly creating a massive need for depth with a busy year ahead.

That gaping hole touched off a pair of moves that could greatly affect Guadalajara's MLS satellite club roughly 1,300 miles to the north in Los Angeles. First, the club plucked Francisco "Panchito" Mendoza from Chivas USA and offered nothing immediate in return. Then, Chivas inked Mexican national-team legend Jared Borgetti on a six-month contract.

At 35, Borgetti is well past his sell-by date, but Chivas is banking he has something left in reserve, while Chivas USA officials may quietly be wishing the same. In what has mostly been a one-way relationship, the trend of player movement may finally turn around with Borgetti. Guadalajara publication Mural reported he would head to Chivas USA in June, following the end of the Clausura '09 season.

Such a move would finally see a player long-rumored for MLS land in the league. After being courted by several MLS clubs, this path to the league through Guadalajara may ultimately have been the only way for Borgetti to join an MLS team.

Should the Mexican national team's all-time leading scorer join the league, he could still be effective. Chivas USA, after all, provided a home to Claudio Suárez who, at the age of 37, was all but washed up. Not only did Suárez resurrect his career in L.A. and land a spot on Mexico's '06 World Cup team, but he's still going strong at the age of 40.

Borgetti could enjoy a similar fountain of youth. The "Desert Fox" isn't exactly a speed-burner, but he never has been. What he does have, however, is a knack for finishing, both in the air and on the ground, and he positions himself well. Also, because of his history of success against the U.S. national team, many around the league might see him as a villain who could help raise attendance in both home and away games (much in the way Cuauhtémoc Blanco has with Chicago).

More importantly, it would be a signal from Guadalajara that the mother ship does care about its American franchise. Originally thought to have been a chance for Guadalajara youngsters to have a proving ground and a place to develop, Chivas USA hasn't received many benefits from its parent club. The last player of significance to join from Guadalajara was Francisco Palencia in '05. Borgetti would help erase that image and give hope for possible future roster help.

While salaries have played a role in this lack of help from Guadalajara -- a player can make as much or more riding the bench for a Mexican First Division team than he can taking up a senior roster spot in MLS -- the gesture of providing a potential impact player would help make up for years of playing an inactive role with the team up north.

Mendoza may not have been an MLS All-Star or received awards and accolades during his four seasons in the league, and he's not among the league's top players. But that doesn't mean his move to Guadalajara is insignificant. MLS supporters should have a keen interest in Mendoza's progress with Chivas, not only in the Clausura '09 season, but also with possible play in the Copa Libertadores.

"Panchito" spent his teen years with Guadalajara youth teams, but he's an MLS product through and through. He honed his skills under such coaches as Bob Bradley and Preki, played alongside future U.S. national-team stars in Brad Guzan and Sacha Kljestan and spent most of his time battling against American players on opposing teams.