I would switch Ruiz for palacio. Availability is the best ability. San Diego isn’t wasting a spot on a guy who missed nearly 2 years. It would also help a potential problem rsl has next year if San Diego took the chance. One of the most consistent parts of the field last year was CM. The club isn’t in dire need of Pablo. I’d also switch Goncalves for Brook. There just isn’t enough tape on Brook for San Diego to take that swing. And if they do? Shrug, we saw how little Pablo valued him when it mattered. Meanwhile, Goncalves has a resume that pretty much any mls club would want. I also wouldn’t be surprised if his deal has a guaranteed protection. Moving that far at that money isn’t something I’d risk… even if moving to San Diego might be nice. If San Diego take MacMath it helps rsl. I know a lot of folks look at this as a zero sum game. I don’t. You get 50k GAM and you can lose a player with a guaranteed contract that’s hampering your roster construction
Honest to god, outside RSL, does anyone in the league rate Ruiz that high? I know he was having a killer year in 2023 But then he missed the second half of the season and missed pretty much the entirety of 2024. Maybe I’m missing it, but I just don’t see how you spend one of five expansion draft spots on that type of player especially at a 900k+ salary hit edit: to my point above, I think Ruiz is the best case scenario for rsl to lose should they lose a player. Thats a massive salary reduction for Schmidt - in fact Ruiz is the biggest hit of the 4 CMs potentially competing for minutes next year. Think what Schmidt could do with that
I guess it depends on who San Diego already has lined up, how they imagine playing, and who else in the league is available at a similar position and salary. Leaving a guy like Ruiz off the list is going to attract a lot of attention. And again, maybe they pick him to trade to another team that has great interest in him. There are a lot of moving parts, so I guess it really matters how important Ruiz is to the team’s plans next year.
Ruiz: $911,500 Ojeda: $658,653 Palacio: $373,167 Eneli: unknown but likely between ojeda and palacio expansion draft is a lot like a line in Vegas. It’s not saying who are the “best” players on the team, it’s game theory with the team selecting to what is a value add
None of these are original ideas, but with today (finally) being the end of the 2024 season some thoughts: MLS needs to shift the schedule to end before the international windows in November. Those have completely killed momentum and any attention garnered. That they align with football ramping up just makes it that much worse Leagues cup break has to be shortened. Fine, take league time off for the group play. After that? Resume league play. Anyone who advances can manage the “schedule congestion” of a few more games Simply the roster rules. This nonsense of senior vs supplemental with allocated money if so many varieties is dumb. Make a soft and hard cap. Let teams do what they want better. It will only improve the league. Change the playoff format. If you must have this many teams get in, make it move quicker. As stated above, that means the end date has to be before the November window - or at least the only thing after should be the final. If you keep 3 game series in the first round they have to be done in 7 days. Its dumb as is rsl specific: so much talk from Trey was about this new game model. It was a fun drinking game for his last pod. A theory I have is that the game model took quicker than expected and the team peaked. The problem was film was out there on it and rsl didn’t have enough of a wrinkle to change it I’m shocked the chicho thing hasn’t leaked yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if it did this winter. I worry it’s something that could split the fanbase. I’m completely speculating but I cannot think of any other player situation like that in my years of watching sports Trey defending the Gomez sale is great. I agree - you gotta take the money. The need to throw in “oh and he was as being lazy at the end” drives me up the wall. It’s just not true. Gomez production didn’t drop off. Just be happy for the guy. Why does that have to be included? The club is really counting on these summer signings adapting to the team. So much so that I don’t think you see any real additions of note this offseason. My hot take is the spots the club needs filled will be filled with current mls players
On the expansion draft, it's not just about what San Diego wants/needs, but if there's a player or there a team is willing to pay San Diego to get. Guys like Quinton and MacMath are attractive for several reasons. Ruiz is tricky, but I can see another team in the league thinking he's a difference maker still. His salary is high enough to make a lot of teams pause, but no international slot is needed. DPs and U 22 players probably don't get taken unless it's a no brainer like Ojeda. Brook wouldn't surprise me to be left exposed either. I'm really looking forward to seeing who other teams expose. I don't understand why there's a trade window the day before the expansion protection list is due. On the roster stuff, moving between the senior and supplemental is only possible if a player is near the supplemental max or have HG/Gen Adidas status (to the best of my memory). That's mainly true if you're moving down to the supplemental roster (salary restrictions), pretty sure anyone can be on the senior roster provided they aren't making league minimum. Guys from last year that more than likely did it: Eneli and Quinton. I bet Eneli got a huge raise and won't fit on the supplemental roster next year.
Thanks. I do wish more people were talking about guys like Paul, Jacquesson, Orozco and to a lesser extent, Pierre. RSL is supposed to be a developmental club. Two of those were highly regarded draft picks (taken before Eneli), one was a HG with lots of expectations and the other was a very recent HG signing ( RSL usually doesn't give up that quick). What happened with these guys? Who is going to fill these roster spots? Will they even play with the Monarchs? The development path seems broken for most. Brandt, I think we need an episode on the Monarchs and what the plan is from the club's perspective.
I'm ok with MacMath being taken (not the worst expansion draft outcome), but RSL will need to address that they play differently with Beavers out there. The club will likely not finish top 4 with Beavers as the starting GK, expectations will need to be lowered. Then you have to budget for two vet GKs.
1, agreed. The playoff format sucks all the way around. No rhythm. 2, probably, but I don't know how you do 1 and 2 with a Feb-Oct schedule. 3, is supposed to be in progress, but not as fast as most want. 4, addressed. 5, has to be a plan B from RSL in 2025. 6, agreed that it has to be something significant given the punishment. 7, agreed. 8, with the early schedule, it makes too much sense to not get MLS vets. Have to be better than Michel though.
I don't have a link, but Bogert is saying RSL has acquired Tyler Wolff from ATL for $50k in GAM. Guess he takes Paul's spot on the roster?
https://bsky.app/profile/tombogert.bsky.social/post/3lcv4all4xs2c Found it. Looks like his 5yr (signed July 2020-2025) homegrown contract is almost up. He's a free agent come 2026. According to the press release: Atlanta declined options on 6 players, and all of them are eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft except Wolff who will go on waivers. I'm not certain how he would fit into the roster? He turns 22 in 2025. Maybe this is a move in preparation for the expansion draft?
I missed that today had a half-day trade window from 7-11am (9am-1pm EST). So there was a small flurry of trades done this morning. The expansion draft is in 2 days. Lists must be finalized tomorrow. I don't think there is an exact time stated, but the league needs all the lists and a chance to review them before releasing them tomorrow. EXPANSION DRAFT RULES Key dates: Dec. 10: The list of players eligible for selection will be released by MLS Communications on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Dec. 11: MLS Expansion Draft: Wednesday, Dec. 11 2024 MLS Expansion Draft Process: Five Rounds: San Diego FC may select up to five players from the eligible pool of players, claiming only a single player from any one club. Selection clock: San Diego FC will be permitted three minutes for each selection. Timeouts: No timeouts. Trades: No trades are permitted during the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft. Key parameters: Clubs that have a player selected in the Expansion Draft will receive $50,000 in General Allocation Money Clubs eligible for Compensatory Allocation under the CBA provision regarding bona fide offers to free agents shall not be eligible for an additional $50,000 of GAM if that player is selected in the Expansion Draft
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/real-salt-lake-acquire-tyler-wolff-from-atlanta-united He got a 2+1+1 deal. I'd be surprised if they didn't retain his HG rights with the expansion draft coming. Otherwise why give up anything for him?
USMNT Only · Leeds United, who are currently tied for 1st in the English Championship, have reportedly explored the conditions of a potential deal for 21-year-old Real Salt Lake and USMNT playmaker Diego Luna.
I love Luna and think big things of him But god please not Leeds. That fanbase treatment of US players/coaches was beyond ridiculous. I know there is a segment of USMNT fans that are insufferable but that saw cut both ways Relegation is what both deserved
https://www.rsl.com/news/real-salt-lake-acquires-winger-tyler-wolff-from-atlanta-united-fc There's some new info on pre-season dates here.
No rumors or anything, but I'm hoping the success of Luna and Barajas means RSL signs young standout players from USL this year.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2024-mls-expansion-draft-eligible-players-how-to-watch I'll have to do the analysis later. Actually have to work today. Ugh.
Real Salt Lake Bell, Matthew Bonilla, Kevin Brody, Andrew Brook, Lachlan Brown, Javain Caliskan, Noel Chang, Maikel Crooks, Matt Gómez, Tomás Holt, Erik Jacquesson, Bertin Lambert, Kevon MacMath, Zac Rubín, Rubio Michel, Benji Paul, Ilijah Silva, Marcelo OK. Leaving Matt Crooks available is blowing my mind a little. That's 17 Players. PROTECTED??? (I've got 14-15 listed) Beavers (HG) Glad Vera Quinton Katranis Eneli Ojeda Ruiz Palacio Marczuk Luna (HG) Chicho Gonçalves Julio Wolff? (HG?)
Generation adidas players who occupy Roster Slots 21-24 and Homegrown Players 25 years old and under in the year in which the Expansion Draft takes place on a club’s Roster at the end of the 2024 MLS Season are automatically protected. Clubs do not have to use a protected slot on them. I guess Wolff fits under homegrown too? It is kinda funny that Luna is considered a homegrown, but whatever. Edited to reflect that.