I know I said I wasn’t going to say anything else but you’re just blatantly wrong in your last post. We didn’t try to re-sign Balchan we didn’t have to; we wouldn’t have for Grossman either. Why? Because they weren’t eligible for the reentry draft. The reentry draft has an age and years of service requirement that neither met. A player that is at least 23 must have a minimum of three years experience in MLS to be eligible for the reentry draft; 25 is four 30 is eight. They were drafted in 2011; neither had three years of service so neither of them had eligibility. We would have kept their rights forever just like old MLS, the reentry draft was a part of the new MLS negotiated in the last CBA because the veterans felt they deserved more negotiating power than rookies.
Then why bother having a waiver draft at all at the end of the season (*in* season--sure--you need one)?? If they don't count vs your roster, you don't have to pay them, and you keep their rights, why would *anybody* waive a non-re-entry-draft player. There would be no point to it. There would be no point to even having such a draft--except to dump a guy who still is in contract. That's what has me puzzled. Most of the guys in that (waiver) draft were option-declined guys or out of contract. None were eligible for the re-entry draft as you noted (or they would have been in it). I'm wondering if there isn't something in the new CBA details. BTW, the quotes were directly from the Official MLS 2012 competition rules on the MLS website. The only change was my bolding one line to bring it to your attention. They state you have to try to re-sign a player to keep his rights. I'm not making that up. And I thought we did make a contract offer to Balchan. Oddly, I could find no copy of the *current* CBA on the web. Anyone have one? Not a summary but the nuts and bolts. The old one is on the players union page but not the new one. We all know that one thing the players hated was the teams keeping the rights of first refusal within MLS, and the re-entry draft addresed that--but not for everyone. Maybe there's a limit to how many rights you can keep.
1. We did not make a contract offer to Balchan we declined his option. 2. This time the bolding is mine. Yes it's the same quote you posted, go back and read it if you'd like. Now people are getting tired of this and I've completely derailed this thread so I'm going to attempt to be done with this.
I can't beat that! As you got older did anyone else find the bolded lyric a bit disturbing? I mean wouldn't builds fit just fine there? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Heroes in a half-shell Turtle power! They're the world's most fearsome fighting team (We're really hip!) They're heroes in a half-shell and they're green (Hey - get a grip!) When the evil Shredder attacks These Turtle boys don't cut him no slack! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Splinter taught them to be ninja teens (He's a radical rat!) Leonardo leads, Donatello does machines (That's a fact, Jack!) Raphael is cool but crude (Gimme a break!) Michaelangelo is a party dude (Party!) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Heroes in a half shell Turtle power!
Don't judge. Each of the dudes had to deal with being a humanoid turtle mutant in their own tubular ways. Also, this thread is officially derailed.
The re-entry draft is for players who teams don't want to pay at their scheduled rate. They get a chance to agree on a new lower price but I think the point of the draft is for the player to get a chance to see if anyone else will pay him at his scheduled rate. If taken in the first round, he gets his scheduled pay. If taken later he can negotiate or go outside MLS. That's the MLS version of free agency for vets. I think the waiver draft is for players who don't qualify as vets and gives teams the ability to pick up another team's unwanted players at the scheduled rate. So Grossman gets claimed and RSL exercises his option. Balchan is unclaimed and can sign with anyone else provided the other team compensates the Crew for waiving their right of first refusal. My guess at how it's supposed to work anyway.
Balchan wasn't waived. Kayak and I both agree on that. You can be sure someone would have taken a flyer on him had he been. That's why I'm confused about the purpose of the waiver draft.
I'd be supportive of this trade if it resulted in Blanco being placed on the stage before each home game where he was kicked in the groin by any fan making a contribution to charity.
Let's be clear here... it would preferrably be the Crew Foundation, but really ANY charity would do. This would include giving the guy behind you in line a $1 for no reason.