Welcome to San Jose, Marcus Tracy

The 2012 season keeps getting better for the San Jose Earthquakes. A 4.6% chance to win the lottery for former Herman Trophy winner Marcus Tracy? Not. A. Problem. (Also, sorry New England.)

The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has won the rights to former Aalborg BK forward Marcus Tracy through a weighted lottery conducted Thursday morning at MLS headquarters. The Earthquakes were one of eight teams vying for Tracy’s services. San Jose had a 4.6 percent chance of winning the lottery based on their performance over the club’s last 34 regular season matches. Six other teams had better odds of winning.

The Wake Forest product joins former college teammates Sam Cronin and Ike Opara on the West Coast after returning from Europe. He never caught on at Aalborg as he suffered with tendonitis in both knees.

In many ways, San Jose is the perfect place for Tracy. He’ll have time to adjust and play himself into shape -- Tracy’s been out of a contract since January -- and not have to worry about making an immediate impact on the field. Stashed on the bench and in the reserve league is the perfect place for Tracy right now.

For the league-leading ‘Quakes, it’s a win-win as well. If he works out, they have another potentially lethal striker. If he doesn’t, it’s worth the risk.

“We liked what we saw of Marcus when he finished his career at Wake Forest,” said Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop in a club statement. “He’s an athletically gifted striker and is dangerous in the air. We look forward to bringing him in.”

The rich get richer. The rich always get richer.

And here’s a goal Tracy scored in the 2007 College Cup final. Enjoy: