News: Expansion Draft Protected/Unprotected List is Out

According to Goff:

MODS: Started a new thread because the existing "Who would you pick?" thread has the wrong title, and I figured there'd be people starting new threads otherwise. Maybe merge and retitle all?

Definitely a roll of the dice here, and a commitment to young/cheap.

Now that we've protected them, when is United going to have the press release that they've acquired Janicki and Khumalo?

well, this is very interesting.....

Re: Who do you protect in the expansion draft?

With the exception of Khumalo and Quaranta (for Vide and Peralta ), I guessed the list before I went to sleep last night. Not protecting a goalkeeper is a good move, as Seattle has already played their hand with their signings. Not protecting Gallardo or Olsen proves we're looking at the reality of their injuries and contracts.

yes, and I like it. Benny played 10 minutes and may not return. Janicki I'd take over Vide any day of the week. Crayton is eminently replaceable at keeper for the money, even though i like him. Gallardo, well, who is going to take him? And if they do, we can almost certainly find someone that can contribute as much as he did THIS YEAR at that money.

Heck, I'm more suprised that we protected Khumalo instead of Doe.

Crayton -- Seattle already has Keller, and Crayton makes a ton by MLS keeper standards, so they'd only go after him for a trade. Again, given what he makes, it's hard to see someone wanting to make that trade just now. I think Crayton's safe.

Gallardo -- Seattle already has a DP coming in, so they'd only go after him to trade him. It's not clear they're even allowed to do that, without a free slot. But suppose they are. What team is going to want him right now, given what he's shown so far and his enormous guaranteed salary?

Benny -- I think his exposure is telling you something about his likelihood of coming back, sadly.

I'm not sure I like this list at all... if they are leaving Olsen unprotected it must mean his return is not looking good.

I don't know if there was a need to protect Fred, but only being able to protect 12, I don't have any real problems with the list.

Like who?

Gallardo and Olsen are injury-prone and expensive. Peralta and Martinez are over-priced and mediocre. Crayton and Wells shouldn't get picked, as Seattle already signed Keller and Eylander.

I worry about losing Vide and that's about it.

I thought that when he had to go back and get his last round of surgeries. I can't imagine him being able to get game fi if he can't even do light training.

So, from this list, if we lose anyone at all, I think the likely choices would be one of Cordeiro, Doe or Vide, with a very long shot at a Gonzalo.

I would've gone with Vide over Khumalo, but I think they made all the right moves in terms of protecting who showed the most over the entire season. I am actually more suprised they didn't do something stupid like protecting Crayton or one of the SA defenders over our younger, cheaper, and better players.

I like it. I would have swapped Doe for Boyzzz but other than that it's fine. They will either take Doe or Vide unless they want to make a trade for say one of the Gonzalos.

I'm kinda worried 'bout doe being taken

I'd bet on Doe, personally.

I think the front office did a good job with this list. I would have protected Vide instead of Khumalo but otherwise had come up with the same list of names.

Leaving Crayton unprotected is not surprising considering Wells was just re-signed, and Crayton earns a fairly high salary making him an unattractive option to a team that has Kasey Keller. Of course Seattle can pick players in the expansion draft and start making trades...

Martinez and Soehn don't seem to be on the same wavelength so I wasn't surprised to see him unprotected, plus the management has been praising Peralta - and Janicki was a revelation late in the season.

Gallardo is way too expensive and hasn't shown his value for any team to take him unless they're just doing it in the hopes of spiting DC.

Ben Olsen is a DC icon and deserves to have his name added to the Wall of Fame - but until he proves he can play again he's just a big drain on the salary cap.

DC left many potentially useful role players unprotected but we will only lose one (tops) in the expansion draft. The core of the team's value (which includes playing ability, future potential and affordability under the salary cap) has been protected.

Cross posting what I put up on Goff's blog:

I'm assuming that Khumalo and Janicki are now signed, otherwise they would not need to be protected, no? I only have one disagreement and one quibble with the list. I would have kept Vide and left Burch unprotected. I also would have left Moreno unprotected due to age, salary and injuries. However, I can live with showing him some respect at the end of his career.

The only other comment is a sad one on Payne, Kasper and Soehn. Two of the players they protected, meaning they are in their eyes the "most valuable" were playing in the U.S. Third Division last August. Speaks volumes about the much touted "off season signings" before the 2008 season. Personally, I blame Veron for the entire mess.

That's all I have to say.

[Max Bretos] Gonzalo Martinez and Gonzalo Peralta, not related by the way. [/Max Bretos]

I would be too if Doe had better finishing ability. If the choice was between Khumalo or Doe, I'd go with Khumalo every time.

Re: Who do you protect in the expansion draft?

I actually think it was dumb not to protect Crayton, and you'll see either LA or Chivas pull a draft-and-trade deal with Seattle for a keeper.

The saving grace for United is that Nick Rimando is also unprotected, and their may be other starting keepers available as the lists roll out today.