How did Cadden benefit?
The great thing about the MLS is they are required to publish salaries every year. Cadden is currently on $56,520 (about £42k). When players are loaned out, they generally don't get any extra money - just that the club taking the loanee pays a part of the salary.
Oxford got half a season from him then, when they wanted to keep him, couldn't afford the fee Columbus were demanding.
So Cadden is back at Columbus on a salary that can't be much more (if it is more) than he was on a Fir Park.
If Cadden's manager/agent is on commission, he won't have much of a cut from the zero transfer fee, the (lack of, so far) development fee or a percentage of Cadden's salary.
If this was a sophisticated sting, then sitting on the bench in Columbus in the middle of winter on a college kid's wages doesn't exactly make Mr Cadden a mastermind.