Rumor on the MLS News and Analysis board continues to be that Chivas (and maybe a second team) may enter MLS next season. Should that rumor hold there will probably be an expansion draft. Looking at DC United’s current roster who would you make available for the draft and who would you protect? Back in 1997 teams had to place a minimum of 10 players into the expansion draft but DC actually placed 11 in the draft because our roster exceeded the 20 man active roster limit. This was our list: Available Players Scott Garlick Ben Iroha Brian Kamler Kris Kelderman Jesse Marsch Clint Peay John Maessner Tom Presthus Mark Simpson David Vaudreuil Roy Wegerle Not Available Jeff Agoos Raul Diaz Arce Marco Etcheverry Mario Gori John Harkes Carlos Llamosa Jaime Moreno Eddie Pope Tony Sanneh Richie Williams Lists from the other teams can be found here: http://barnburners.com/news/97/expansion3.html Here’s our current roster: (REG means no special status) Code: [size=2] Alegria, Jose T-I Barclay, Devin P-40 Carroll, Brian P-40 Cerritos, Ronald GC Convey, Bobby REG Eskandarian, Alecko P-40 Etcheverry, Marco GC Ivanov, Galin S-I Kovalenko, Dema GC Martins, Thiago REG Namoff, Bryan REG Nelsen, Ryan S-I Olsen, Ben REG Perea, Trevor DEV Petke, Mike REG Prideaux, Brandon REG Quaranta, Santino REG Quintanilla, Eliseo T-I Reyes, Milton GC/DISC Stewart, Earnie REG Stoitchkov, Hristo REG Stokes, David P-40 Geddes, Jorge DEV Rimando, Nick REG Warren, Doug REG [/size] Here are my lists assuming each team is required to make 10 players available. I didn’t include Hristo or Marco on either list because I question whether they’ll be back next year. I took the cap into consideration in the sense that if I was vacillating between two players I protected the cheaper one. Some of the thinking was also strategic. For instance, I didn’t think Geddes would be drafted by an expansion team but he holds place on the list and thereby essentially allows me to protect another player by default. I put Rimando on the list because I’m actually fairly comfortable with Warren. Available Alegria, Jose Carroll, Brian Cerritos, Ronald Geddes, Jorge Ivanov, Galin Perea, Trevor Quaranta, Santino Quintanilla, Eliseo Rimando, Nick Barclay, Devin Not Available Convey, Bobby Eskandarian, Alecko Kovalenko, Dema Martins, Thiago Namoff, Bryan Nelsen, Ryan Olsen, Ben Petke, Mike Prideaux, Brandon Reyes, Milton Stewart, Earnie Stokes, David Warren, Doug Probably Retiring Etcheverry, Marco Stoitchkov, Hristo
Available Alegria, Jose Barclay, Devin Carroll, Brian Cerritos, Ronald Geddes, Jorge Ivanov, Galin Martins, Thiago Perea, Trevor Stoitchkov, Hristo Warren, Doug Not Available Convey, Bobby Eskandarian, Alecko Etcheverry, Marco Kovalenko, Dema Namoff, Bryan Nelsen, Ryan Olsen, Ben Petke, Mike Prideaux, Brandon Reyes, Milton Quaranta, Santino Quintanilla, Eliseo Rimando, Nick Stewart, Earnie Stokes, David
Available Alegria, Jose Carroll, Brian Eskandarian, Alecko Geddes, Jorge Ivanov, Galin Perea, Trevor Rimando, Nick Barclay, Devin Martins, Thiago Stoitchkov, Hristo John Trask Not Available Convey, Bobby Kovalenko, Dema Quintanilla, Eliseo Namoff, Bryan Nelsen, Ryan Olsen, Ben Petke, Mike Prideaux, Brandon Reyes, Milton Stewart, Earnie Cerritos, Ronald Stokes, David Warren, Doug Quaranta, Santino Probably Retiring Etcheverry, Marco Let Hristo retire after the draft, and he makes another player safe. Whether he retires or not, Etch cannot be traded, I would assume that means he can't be drafted either.
I have to wonder if we have the rights to Thiago Martin. We signed him AFTER Pittsburgh was eliminated. They may still own his rights (since I don't think a transfer fee was paid). In which case, we wouldn't be protecting him. Also, I wonder if Hristo (who was originally an allocation) will bring an allocation when he retires? Etcheverry should as well. That means that it would be important for them to retire BEFORE the expansion draft. Otherwise, we might be forced to protect them to keep the allocations. Here's another option--if you feel equally good about Rimando and Warren, then expose both. The usual procedure is once a player is claimed off your list, you can pull one back. That way, you can protect a Quintanilla or Quaranta.
the archived press release about his signing doesn't indicate for how long, merely saying he was taking reyes roster spot. i would assume with the riverhounds going down to the pdl they couldn't afford a guy like martins who could make a good buck in a league i'd think.
I'll go even one better and give my available list for all ten teams. I have given ten names for each team Chicago Available Williams, Andrew Selolwane, Dipsy Capano, Craig Perez, Orlando Bolanos, Jonathan Futagaki, Ryan Walls, Nick Ring, Henry Marsch, Jesse Gray, Kelly Columbus Available McCarty, Chad Denton, Eric Paule, Ross West, Brian Pineda Chacon, Alex Matteo, Jeff Ritch, Michael Murriagui, Andres Traeger, Jake Ueltschey, Michael DC United Available Ivanov, Galin Alegria, Jose Carroll, Brian Barclay, Devin Quintanilla, Eliseo Perea, Trevor Quaranta, Santino Warren, Doug Geddes, Jorge Thiago Martins Metrostars Available Leitch, Christopher Bartolomeu, Edgar Forchetti, Juan LeBlanc, Jacob Addo, Joseph Wolyniec, John Williams, Richie DiGiamarino, Joey Regan, Tim Nugent, Michael New England Available Kante, Ibrahim Pierce, Rusty Moore, Jason Llamosa, Carlos Downing, Nick Joseph, Shalrie Leonard, Marshall Frias, Tony Reis, Matt Heaps, Jay Colorado Available Kotschau, Richard Fraser, Robin Powell, Darryl Trembly, Seth Kingsley, Zach Hart, Wes Rizo, Alberto Stewart, Jeff Piserchio, Michael Vallow, Scott Dallas Avaiable Hendrickson, Ezra Pareja, Oscar Urbas, Hermann Glinton, Gavin Salyer, Philip Cassar, Jeff Rosenband, Andy Nhleko, Nkosinathi Thompson, Jason Dunseth, Brian KC Avaiable Talley, Carey Zavagnin, Kerry Vazquez, Jorge Harris, Wolde Armstrong, Stephen Friedland, Kevin Arnaud, Davy Zotinca, Alex Graham, Taylor Oshoniyi, Adegboyega LA Available Thompson, Scot Broome, Paul Albright, Chris Lewis, Eric Gomez, Herculez Torres, Arturo Ochoa, Jesus Lalas, Alexi Popik, Daniel Marshall, Tyrone SJ Avaiable Robinson, Eddie Lagos, Manuel Walker, Jamil Waibel, Craig Conway, Jon Saunders, Josh Alvarez, Arturo De Rosario, Dwayne Russell, Ian Roner, Chris
Available Alegria, Jose Carroll, Brian Cerritos, Ronald Eskandarian, Alecko Geddes, Jorge Ivanov, Galin Perea, Trevor Quintanilla, Eliseo Rimando, Nick Barclay, Devin Not Available Convey, Bobby Kovalenko, Dema Martins, Thiago Namoff, Bryan Nelsen, Ryan Olsen, Ben Petke, Mike Prideaux, Brandon Quaranta, Santino Reyes, Milton Stewart, Earnie Stokes, David Warren, Doug I took Knave's list and switched Quaranta and Eskandarian. I'd keep Q1 because he is younger, more versatile, and, IMO, more talented. He does seem to need an attitude transplant, but that should come with maturity. Esky has been a disappointment and, unlike the other rookies, he's had a fair share of time. Still, maybe Esky has it and will blossom in the future. If I were making the choice for DCU, I might toy with keeping Esky and putting Earnie on the Available list -- not because I would want to lose him, but because I think he'd be too expensive to take. OFF TOPIC: I noticed form the 1998 draft, that LA put Hartmann on the Available list and Jorge Campos on the Not Available list. Does anyone know how Jorge then wound up in Chicago? And wasn't only a year later that Hartmann had that wonderful toe-stub in MLS Cup?
Absolutely no way Kelly Gray is on an available list from Chicago. He is a future National Teamer and started nearly every game. CJ Brown goes on the list -- he high salary, closing in on the end of his career and has been hurt all year. Also, I seriously doubt if Capano is on it either. He's a year or two away from being an impact player like Justin Mapp has been this year. First to answer your off topic question, Chicago took Hartman and someone else in the draft from LA and then traded both back to LA for Ante Razov, Chris Armas and Jorge Campos. As for who DCU should protect, if Chivas is the only one doing the drafting, there is no need to waste a protection spot on guys like Ryan Nelson. They have made it plain that they're going to use all SI & TI spots on Mexicans and in fact may have all Americans on the team of hispanic decent. I guess there is one risk in that -- they could take a Nelson and then use him to trade for 2 or more good hispanic players somewhere else.
So LA lost two guys from the Available List and then traded three guys from the Not Available List to get them back? What genius in LA masterminded that?
If I'm Trask, I'm not exposing any of our top talent, especially with no top round draft picks next year. If Chivas is at all true to his word, I definitely would not expose TI or SI or greed card players of Hispanic background. No Quintanilla, Cerritos, or Reyes I also don't expose players who might be acquired to trade for someone else, like Stewart, Nelson, etc. I hope both Hristo and Marco retire so we get some allocations for them. If not, I would expose Hristo to the expansion draft and pull Prideaux off the list. If Marco does not retire, I also would put him on the available list and pull Warren. Available Alegria, Jose Barclay, Devin Carroll, Brian Geddes, Jorge Ivanov, Galin Martins, Thiago Perea, Trevor Prideaux, Brandon Stokes, David Warren, Doug Not Available Cerritos, Ronald Convey, Bobby Eskandarian, Alecko Kovalenko, Dema Namoff, Bryan Nelsen, Ryan Olsen, Ben Petke, Mike Quintanilla, Eliseo Quaranta, Santino Reyes, Milton Rimando, Nick Stewart, Earnie
Available Alegria, Jose Carroll, Brian Cerritos, Ronald Eskandarian, Alecko Geddes, Jorge Ivanov, Galin Namoff, Brian Perea, Trevor Quaranta, Santino Quintanilla, Eliseo Rimando, Nick Barclay, Devin Same as Knave's except I added Eski and Namoff.
You also have to consider using the draft as a way to relieve cap space. Cerritos is a prime candidate if we decide to keep Martins and/or a younger forward (through trade, draft, allocation, etc.)
I'd be surprised if $5500 a year developmental players (Perea, Geddes) were allowed to count on the non-protected list. Nice dodge, but try again.
Gotta keep the Cerritos/Stewart combo, that's next season's bread & butter strike pairing! If I owned DC, I'd be hunting for a older yet speedy midfield partner for Bobby & bag the rest Available Alegria Barclay Carroll Eskandarian Etcheverry Ivanov Martins Perea Stoitchkov Stokes Geddes Protected Cerritos* Convey* Kovalenko* Namoff* Nelsen* Olsen* Petke* Prideaux Quaranta Quintanilla Reyes Stewart* Rimando Warren *protected with coach's life
I think Cerritos, Alegria, Q1 and Q2 are the most likely to be on the list. Cerritos eats a lot of cap space and Chivas is the club most likely interested in him (assuming he's not placed on the list). Either way, I think he'll go. Alegria is close to being an SI and he is by no means a quality SI. We need those spots for players that can either start or contribute off the bench, something that Alegria is hardpressed to do (yeah, I know he had an assist on Sunday, but what else has he done all season?). Q2 needs greener pastures to develop. A club like Chivas may be what he needs to be better as a player. The same can also be said for Q1.
My recommendation -- and this would also be a gesture opf goodwill to Chivas -- is to leave all of our Mexican players unprotected. AQ
Available Players Chino Alegria (SI next season) Marco Etcheverry (Max Salary) Galin Ivanov (SI and poor defender) Thiago Martins (Bubble) Bryan Namoff (Bubble) Brandon Prideaux (Bubble) Eliseo Quintanilla Earnie Stewart (Max Salary) Hristo Stoichkov (Disruptive) Doug Warren (Bubble) Perea (Developmental) Geddes (Developmental) Not Available Bobby Convey (Allocation if he leaves) Ronald Cerritos (Bubble because of salary) Dema Kovalenko Ryan Nelsen (SI) Ben Olsen Mike Petke Santino Quaranta Milton Reyes Nick Rimando Devin Barclay (Bubble) Brian Carroll (Bubble) Alecko Eskandarian (Bubble) David Stokes (Bubble) I've seen some crazy things posted here, so I'd like to clarify a bit. Even if there is a draft only for Chivas, guys like Ryan Nelsen and Brandon Prideaux will be selected immediately. They will then be traded by Chivas to teams like Colorado, Columbus and KC, who all need defenders. Not protecting them is assuring that you lose them. Don't forget about the salary cap. With DC United having few draft picks in a substantially inferior draft year, we're not likely to find more than one or two P-40 players. Guys like Devin and Esky may or may not be P-40 next season, but if they are not, we will likely not replace that spot with P-40 quality. Similarly, high salary guys with relatively low production like Earnie Stewart and Marco Etcheverry are unlikely to be drafted. Also, a productive guy like Dema might not be drafted because of his penchant for cards and mid-range salary. Ditto for Olsen because of injuries and salary. Similarly, good, young, inexpensive, technical, versatile, multi-skilled, and tall defenders like Kelly Gray are coveted, and would be picked immediately as well. If there is a draft, it really depends upon how many people we need to make available, and whether all categories (i.e. P-40's) count equally (unlikely). I'd guess that we'd have to offer up 8-10 full roster guys if there are two teams choosing, probably 6-8 if only one team is choosing. -Digital
The salary cap has a great deal of impact on the protected list. It is a variable that apparently may increase for next season. Anyway-- Digital, that's about the list that I'd have as well. I'm not sure about keeping the diminutive Esky while risking the dominating Thiago, who has been the more dangerous. Protecting Quaranta is also a difficult decision, but one that I agree with because of the kid's talent and size. Protecting Convey is also a bitter pill -- I am sooooo disapointed with his production this year after all of his bravado in pre-season about demanding the ball, etc. Also, he's apparently not the most well-liked of players in the locker room. But, again, I agree with your list. So I guess maybe I'd switch Thiago to protected for Esky. FWIW. GM ps: I hate to expose BP, but it is logical and Stokesy has sooo much talent -- a good offseason training regimen should see him through to starting next season.
I may be insane in saying this, but would it make more sense to protect Warren then Rimando? Warren has made the occasional rookie mistakes, but has overall been really solid and will obviously improve over the offseason. Rimando, however, will be coming off an ACL injury (who knows if he'll still have the cat-like quickness he relies on?) and costs more. Warren protected over Rimando?
A couple of thoughts: I'd presume any expansion draft will happen after all unsigned players either have new contracts or are waived. So this draft will most likely happen shortly before the Superdraft. It also means that we'll know if Etch and Hristo are retired- and if we get an allocation for them- or if the team has picked up their contracts . It also means that we'll know if Nellie or possibly Convey are going to Europe by then. Again, with one year left on his contract, Nelsen says that after this season he's gonna take some time off- till the end of the year- go hoe to NZ and figure what he wants to do next. Good for him as he is nearing the prime of his career and this next contract be very important. I really think he'll decide that he needs to start earning some decent money by professional sports standards- which means that MLS won't be able to match what England will offer. So I see him at the end of december- shortly before the international signing window opens- telling MLS that he's gonna walk the next year if they don't sell him this winter. MLS then sells him before the expansion draft happens. The question then becomes- will we get an allocation for him? Convey is less likely to go, but he has this upcoming U-20 tournament to shine. He may get offers from other than England countries. But he too, we'll know by the expansion draft if he is still with us or not. If Convey stays and even if Etcheverry retires, we still have a glut in central attacking mids with Convey, Stewart, and Kovalenko. My first choice would be to expose Stewart and his salary but I'm not sure: how much did Dema re-sign for and do we want to Dema as the main person running the midfield unless we then get an SI somewhere? Hopefully by this draft we'd have a good line on another a-mid if we are planning on losing two or three of Etch, Convey, Dema, and Stewart. I also agree with those who think the P-40 guys won't be in the draft. But we'll have to wait to see if Esky and Warren are still P-40 or not. I would expose Prideaux but not Namoff. Brandon is a very good player but he's not an ideal starter at central defense (lack of air game) or on the outside (lack of offensive game). Namoff, on the other hand, may wind up filling our d-mid hole. Hopefully we'll know how we are gonna fill that d-mid hole before the draft...
I think you all are looking at the expansion draft method backwards. According to the Post back in '97, every team in the league could only PROTECT 10 players, everybody else was fair game (unless there were special circumstances like for a dev. player, or P-40's who were living close to home, but they likely wouldn't have been picked anyway). Once a player was picked from a team, then another player could be added to the protected list and once 3 players were picked from any team, then that team was out of the draft. So, teams didn't offer up 10+ players for the draft like the Barnbruners thing was indicating, they were only able to protect 10. Assuming MLS will handle it the same way, that makes creating available rosters a lot more interesting. When you look at it that way, a lot of this speculation would look a lot different, I'd imagine, since your lists of protected players would have to shrink by at least a few players. For me, I'd say protect: Cerritos Stewart Quaranta Convey Dema Olsen Petke Nelsen Rimando Namoff Then after Reyes is taken, protect Prideaux (or vice versa). After Martins is taken, protect Esky (or vice versa). And after Warren is taken, DC will be out of the draft pool. This is just pure speculation obviously, but I thought it was fun to guess at it. Anyway, this all is probably moot as MLS will not expand until 2005 anyway.
If that were the case, then I'd protect: Warren Reyes Nelsen Petke Olsen Stewart Convey Kovalenko Prideaux Martins That's the core of our team (and starting lineup). Any of the other players chosen are either utility players or bench warmers.