So I've been watching how other supporters are discussing what MLS players they would like. Who do we want? My opinion is that most of us want non-current MLS players. But I was curious what the rest of you thought.
Methinks we should start a Re-entry Draft thread, since we'll have the opportunity to select players waived in this two-part draft coming soon.
Is that a list of players waived? Or just players you would be interested in that are on the outs with their teams?
No but here is a list as of today (some might not be up for the actual re-entry draft, but all could in theory be signed by RSL if they wanted). COLORADO RAPIDS OUT Conor Casey F (Released) Edu F (Released) Ian Joyce GK (Released) Tyrone Marshall D (Released) Joseph Nane M (Released) Scott Palguta D (Released) Tyson Wahl D (Released) Luis Zapata D (Released) FC DALLAS OUT Ruben Luna F (Released) Bryan Leyva M (Released) Matias Jara F (Released) Bruno Guarda M (Released) MONTREAL IMPACT OUT Shavar Thomas D (Released) Josh Gardner D (Released) Evan James M/F (Released) Eduardo Sebrango F (Retired) Greg Sutton GK (Retired) RED BULL NEW YORK OUT Teemu Tainio M (Released) Jan Gunnar Solli M (Released) Bill Gaudette GK (Released) Jose Angulo F (Released) TORONTO FC OUT Adrian Cann D (Released) Ty Harden D (Released) Dicoy Williams D (Released) Oscar Cordon M (Released) Nicholas Lindsay F (Released) Keith Makubuya F (Released) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC OUT Etienne Barbara F (Released) Brian Sylvestre GK (Released) Tiago Ulisses M (Released) BigSoccer master thread here.
No one really stands out to me. Tyson Wahl might be worth giving a trial if he doesn't land on another team, he was a solid defender for the cRapids.
Not all of the teams have made their lists available (most haven't, and some of those which have aren't done making moves yet). Three categories of players will be (well, this is what they used last year, and we've no indication it will be changed) available, with the "options" here generally referring to players on the standard MLS 2 + 2 contract, which gives two guaranteed years plus an additional two at the team's option: * Players at least 23 years of age, with at least 3 years of MLS experience, whose options were not picked up by the club. If these players were picked last year, they were guaranteed whatever salary the option listed. * Players at least 25 years of age, with at least 5 years of MLS experience, whose contracts expired at the end of the season AND whose clubs did not offer them a new contract at at least the same salary. If these players were picked, they got the same salary they had before. * Players who were at least 30 years of age, with at least 8 years of MLS experience, who were out of contract with their current teams unwilling to re-sign them. If these players were picked, they got at least 105% of their salary from their new club. There were two stages last year, a week apart. In the second stage, players out of contract were available at new salary levels (only a first round selection guaranteed someone the same salary). Teams can also select their own players in round two. Anyone not selected becomes a free agent. At first I called the stages rounds, but if a team makes a pick in a particular stage, they get additional picks in additional rounds of the same stage up until they decide to pass. Passing in one stage does not preclude participation in the next stage.
Last year we had six players in the draft: Jean Alexandre - who fell in category one above - who was traded before round one (this is allowed) Arturo Alvarez - who fell in category two above - picked by Chivas USA in Stage One Nelson Gonzalez - category one - not selected Raushawn McKenzie - category one - not selected Blake Wagner - category one - not selected Andy Williams - category three - retired following Stage One Alvarez and Williams were out of contract, and the other four had their options declined.
I thought Wahl was solid at Seattle before they traded him originally. I'm very interested who RSL puts on the list.
Last year three players were picked in the first stage, in this order: Danleigh Borman, from Toronto by New England (he went home to South Africa instead) Arturo Alvarez, from RSL by Chivas USA (he went to Portugal instead) Carlos Mendes, from NYRB by Columbus (he payed in/started 12 games for the Crew) The second round saw more activity, with ten players being picked (four by LA), in this order: Marc Burch, from DC United by Seattle (he started 19 and played in 29 games) Nate Jaqua, from Seattle by New England (he did not sign) Kheli Dube, from New England by Chicago (he signed, did not play, was released in August and went to South Africa to play) Baggio Husidic, from Chicago by Colorado (he signed in Sweden instead) Andrew Boyens, from Chivas USA by LA (he started two of LA's first three games, then sat all year) --- Clyde Simms, by New England from DC United (he started and played 29 games for the Revs) Hunter Freeman, by Colorado from Houston (he started 18 and played in 19 games for the Rapids, notching five assists as an outside back) Chris Leitch, by Los Angeles from San Jose (he was a stage three player and, like Andy Williams, opted to retire) --- Pat Noonan, by Los Angeles from Seattle (he played in 10 games/1 start/174 minutes for the Galaxy, including one goal) --- Jon Conway, by Los Angeles from Chicago (also a stage three player, and also retired)
Wow. I guess we shouldn't get our hopes up for the re-entry draft. AND, I'm a little mad that you posted Leitch's name. I would have been happy to never have thought about him again in my life.
As much as we are all expecting big changes at RSL this off-season, I would not be surprised to see less change than we all expect.
Some more notable names on the "don't let the door hit you on the way out" list: Blake Brettschneider (NE) Stephen Keel (NY) Tyler Ruthven (NY) Jeremy Vuolo (NY) Corey Hertzog (NY) - I only include him because he is still GA
. . .and stage one is TODAY at 1:30 MST? Guess the FO will be busy, and that we'll have several roster moves ourselves. The order: 1. Toronto (23 pts) 2. Chivas USA (30 pts) 3. Portland (34 pts) 4. New England (35 pts) 5. Philadelphia (36 pts) 6. Colorado (37 pts) 7. FC Dallas (39 pts) 8. Montreal (42 pts) 9. Columbus (52 pts) 10. Vancouver (43 pts – Knockout Rd elimination) 11. Chicago (57 pts – Knockout Rd elimination) 12. Real Salt Lake (57 pts – Conference Semi elimination) 13. New York (57 pts – Conference Semi elimination) 14. Kansas City (63 pts – Conference Semi elimination) 15. San Jose (66 pts – Conference Semi elimination) 16. Seattle Sounders (56 pts – Conference Championship elimination) 17. DC United (58 pts – Conference Championship elimination) 18. Houston (53 pts – MLS Cup finalist) 19. LA Galaxy (54 pts – MLS Cup finalist)
I don't see RSL picking anyone up (especially going 12th) but I imagine a few players may be waived today.
If they're going to blow up the team this off-season, this is a very small first explosion. NY, on the other hand, now THAT'S blowing up the team.
Here's the whole waived list:Goalkeepers (3): Ian Hogg (Portland), Bryan Sylvestre (Vancouver), Jeremy Vuolo (NY Red Bulls)Defenders (11): Jonathan Borrajo (NY Red Bulls), Cyprian Hedrick (Sporting KC), Flo Lechner (New England), Alex Lee (FC Dallas), Porfirio Lopez (Philadelphia), Neven Markovic (Sporting KC), Carlos Rodriguez (FC Dallas), Tyler Ruthven (NY Red Bulls), Nemanja Vukovic (Columbus Crew), Dicoy Williams (Toronto FC), Luis Zapata (Colorado Rapids)Midfielders (14): Freddie Braun (Portland), Julio Cesar (Sporting KC), Oscar Cordon (Toronto FC), Edu (Colorado Rapids), Gabriel Gomez (Philadelphia), Cole Grossman (Columbus Crew), Evan James (Montreal Impact), Bryan Leyva (FC Dallas), Nico Muniz (Real Salt Lake), Alec Purdie (New England), Jan Gunnar Solli (NY Red Bulls), Teemu Tainio (NY Red Bulls), Tiago Ulisses (Vancouver), Konrad Warzycha (Sporting KC)Forwards (14): Jose Angulo (NY Red Bulls), Jhonny Arteaga (NY Red Bulls), Etienne Barbara (Vancouver), Blake Brettschneider (New England), Sercan Guvenisic (San Jose), Corey Hertzog (NY Red Bulls), Matias Jara (FC Dallas), Nicholas Lindsay (Toronto FC), Ruben Luna (FC Dallas), Keith Makabuya (Toronto FC), Charles Renken (Portland), Michael Roach (New England), Olman Vargas (Columbus Crew), Krystian Witkowski (Philadelphia)
Yeah, I had to read it twice to be sure his name wasn't on it. So I would guess he's either out of contract (anyone know?) or RSL think they can get something in return.
This isn't the re-entry draft, just the waiver draft; I think these are players teams want to let go who do not meet the criteria I listed previously. Teams have up until the re-entry draft to negotiate with their own players to see if they'll go with a lower salary or not. I imagine that's where we'll see action. This mostly only means we're planning to keep and/or renegotiate with Lalo, Seba, Enzo, Steele, and Bonfigli. I don't think we have other players are younger than 23/25 and/or have fewer than 3/5 years of experience. Letting Braun go would put him in the re-entry draft, for example.