Houston Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas will no longer count as a designated player after the club bought down his salary budget charge with targeted allocation money.
The Dynamo also acquired the 21-year-old Colombian's future sell-on rights from hometown club Uniautonoma, where Manotas began his professional career before moving to MLS in 2015.
Manotas, a former Colombian under-20 international, failed to score in nine substitute appearances that first season with the Dynamo. He had six goals in 22 matches (10 starts) last year, his first full campaign in Houston.
The move opens up a designated player slot for the Dynamo, who had the maximum of three before Manotas' status was changed.
Mexican striker Erik "Cubo" Torres and Honduran forward Alberth Elis remain on the roster as DPs.
"It has been a strategically calculated part of our planning," general manager Matt Jordan told the Houston Chronicle of the decision to buy down Manotas' contract. "It secures the future of a bright young prospect we think has a lot of upside."