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MLS Expansion draft lists released

Here are the lists of players being exposed by all 14 teams in the upcoming MLS Expansion draft for Seattle Sounders FC (these are the players who will be available):

Chivas USA

Chiles, Kraig

Curtin, Jim

Ebert, Eric

Ferreira, Dejair

Flores, Jorge

Hamilton, Anthony

Kennedy, Dan

Mayen, Gerson

Nurse, Roberto

Paladini, Daniel

Parker, Lance

Razov, Ante

Savage, Keith

Suarez, Claudio

Talley, Carey

Thornton, Zach

Vaughn, Lawson

Victorine, Sasha

Wicky, Raphael

Zotinca, Alex

Chicago Fire

Banner, Michael

Brown, C.J.

Carr, Calen

Frankowski, Tomasz

Herron, Andy

Kasiguran, Kai

Kettering, Tyler

King, Stephen

Lowry, Peter

Marmol, Lider

Noble, Nick

Pappa, Marco Pablo

Prideaux, Brandon

Washington, Austin

Woolard, Daniel

 

Colorado Rapids

Burciaga, Jose

Burpo, Preston

Cooke, Terry

Dalby, Greg

DiRaimondo, John

Erpen, Facundo

Grazier, Brian

Harvey, Jordan

Hughes, Justin

Keel, Stephen

Kimura, Kosuke

McManus, Tom

Petke, Mike

Sarkodie, Kwame

Ward, Tim

Zambrano, Cesar

 

Columbus Crew

Burns, Kevin

Elenio, Cory

Evans, Brad

Garey, Jason

Gaven, Eddie

Gruenebaum, Andy

Josten, George

Junge, Ryan

Lenhart, Steven

Miglioranzi, Stefani

Moffat, Adam

Noonan, Pat

Nyazamba, Stanley

Oughton, Duncan

Peterson, Andrew

Pierre-Louis, Ricardo

Plotkin, Brian

Schoeni, Kenny

 

FC Dallas

Burse, Ray

Daniels, Andrew

Davino, Duilio

Dello-Russo, Michael

Pitchkolan, Aaron

Rowland, Jeff

Sikora, Victor

Wadsworth, Spencer

Wagenfuhr, David

Watson, Jamie

Wileman, Chase

 

D.C. United

Carroll, Jeff

Carroll, Pat

Cordeiro, Ryan

Crayton, Louis

Doe, Francis

Dyachenko, Rod

Gallardo, Marcelo

Kirk, Quavas

Koroma, Ibrahim

Martinez, Gonzalo

Mediate, Domenic

Miller, Ryan

Olsen, Ben

Peralta, Gonzalo

Thompson, Craig

Thorpe, James

Vide, Joseph

Wells, Zach

Zaher, Michael

 

Houston Dynamo

Alcaraz, Johnny

Ashe, Corey

Barrett, Wade

Brown, Kyle

Caig, Tony

Chabala, Michael

Hatzke, Nick

Hayden, John Michael

Ianni, Patrick

Jaqua, Nate

Mulrooney, Richard

Onstad, Pat

Ustruck, Erik

Waibel, Craig

Waller, Corbin

Wondolowski, Chris

Wondolowski, Stephen

 

Kansas City Wizards

Hartman, Kevin

Hohlbein, Aaron

Kraus, Michael

Kronberg, Eric

Marquess, Matt

McKenzie, Rauwshan

Morsink, Kurt

Pardo, Boris

Pizarro, Nelson

Pore, Ryan

Thompson, Abe

Trujillo, Ivan

Wahl, Tyson

Watson, Lance

 

Los Angeles Galaxy

Adzemian, Vardan

Alamo, Charles

Allen, Ely

Barlow, Jeremy

Cronin, Steve

Dominguez, Eduardo

Franchino, Joe

Gavin, Michael

Kirovski, Jovan

Klein, Chris

Munoz, Mike

Randolph, Michael

Saunders, Josh

Tudela, Josh

Vagenas, Peter

Valentin, Julian

Wicks, Josh

 

New England Revolution

Angulo, Jose

Badilla, Gabriel

Brill, Samuel

Flood, Gary

Germanese, Joe

Knighton, Brad

Manzonelli, Brandon

Matamoros, Mauricio

Phelan, Pat

Smith, Khano

Thompson, Wells

Tierney, Chris

Tyler, Brandon

Warren, Doug

Zapata, Argenis Fernandez

 

New York Red Bulls

Borman, Danleigh

Echeverry, Oscar

Gilkerson, John

Jimenez, Diego

Kljestan, Gordon

Leitch, Chris

Magee, Mike

Mbuta, Andongcho

Mendes, Carlos

Palacio, Michael

Parke, Jeff

Patterson, Caleb

Pietravallo, Juan

Roth, David

Touray, Sainey

Wolyniec, John

 

Real Salt Lake

Besagno, Nik

Cutler, Kenny

Deuchar, Kenneth

Horst, David

Joy, Ian

Kirby, Dustin

Kovalenko, Dema

Mathis, Clint

Nunez, Tino

Reiman, Kevin

Reynish, Kyle

Sturgis, Nathan

Tennelle, Brennan

Williams, Andy

 

San Jose Earthquakes

Arce, Miguel

Ayres, Jay Michael

Cunliffe, John

Denton, Eric

Ghebru, Michael

Glinton, Gavin

Grabavoy, Ned

Gray, Kelly

Gustavson, Michael

Hatzke, Matt

O'Brien, Ronnie

Riley, James

Roberts, Jamil

Smarte, Adam

Somma, Davide

 

Toronto FC

Attakora-Gyan, Nana

Elkinson, Kilian

Freeman, Hunter

Gala, Gabe

Gaudet, Derek

Melo, Joey

Ricketts, Rohan

Rosenlund, Tyler

Ruiz, Carlos

Smith, Jarrod

Smith, Johann

Sutton, Greg

Velez, Marco

 

What do you think of the lists? What are the biggest surprises? Who do yo see Seattle taking with its 10 picks? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Sammy Sounder–actually, if Seattle has 3-4 guys from the expansion draft starting for your team most of the season than you don’t make the playoffs. If your team has 1-2 guys from the expansion draft as starters then that probably means that your USL guys, your allocations/foreign signings and your draft picks went well. And that would mean you’d have a strong team.

    As for the Seattle USL talent you cite–don’t get your hopes up. Most of those guys have been in MLS camps before. For instance, Vancouver this year was full of MLS rejects (Justin Moose? ) Doesn’t mean they’re bad players. It means they’re mostly role-players. Take Kandji who tore up the USL this year and is also a fantastic athletic–he didn’t start for a team that backed into the playoffs and had a losing record (RBNY).

    Now Seattle might have a strong team next year. But it won’t be because of players chosen in the expansion draft. And it won’t be because of your Sounders players you’ve added (you give you depth–something most expansion teams don’t have). Your season is going to be determined by Ljundberg, Keller, your draftees, any trades you make, and your other foreign signings. That is how Chicago did so well their first year. And that’s how SJ got respectable at times.

    Reply
  2. I want to get younger. Already with Ljundberg we feel ancient and injury-prone. So:

    F – Doe, DCU (41,000)

    F – Jaqua, Houston (173,000)

    M – Ricketts, TFC (200,000)

    M – Pappa, TFC (w/ poison pill 165,000?)

    M – Besagno, RSL (100,000)

    M – Gaven, Crew (165,000)

    D – Mike Randolph, LA (33,000)

    D – Leitch, NY (60,000)

    D – Kimura (33,000)

    G – Hartman, KC (150,000)

    Hartman could be easily traded.

    I don’t know about Pappa, but if the so-called “poison pill” isn’t too bad, I want him. Otherwise, Prideaux, D, (72,000)?

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  3. I would take:

    F Jorge Flores (Chivas)

    M Eddie Gaven (Columbus)

    F Quavas Kirk (DC)

    M Marco Pappa (Chicago)

    D Jeff Parke (NY)

    D Hunter Freeman (Toronto)

    D Tyson Wahl (KC)

    F John Cunliff (San Jose)

    D Patrick Ianni (Houston)

    M Nicolas Besagno (Real Salt Lake)

    None: New England (Manzanilli best bet), FC Dallas (Jamie Watson), Los Angeles Galaxy (Cronin), Colorado Rapids (Kiruma)

    However, I’m not aware of salaries, so take with a grain of salt.

    Reply
  4. It’s been long known that Nate was coming to Seattle. He’s from the Eugene, OR and the word around here was that he wouldn’t agree to return to Houston until it was agreed he could move to Seattle upon the expansion.

    Us Sounder fans are disappointed that it looks like it’s going to be via the draft. We were hoping he’d come on a free transfer.

    Reply
  5. re: Houston

    Would hate to lose Waibel as he is strong in the air and good on set pieces. Although I love the guy, I wouldn’t be too upset to see Barrett go. Dynamo needs some younger, faster defenders, and this list definitely reflects that reality.

    Hate to see Chabala on here though as I think he is up-and-coming. Amazing how Ianni’s stock has fallen — remember he was on our Olympic team this summer, although I don’t think he ever saw the field.

    Please take Caig off our hands — he is garbage. Leave us Onstad for another year.

    I wonder who would take the Captain’s armband if Barrett goes — seems like Clark and DeRo are both too volatile for that role.

    So, what is happening with Jaqua??? Lots of rumors flying around. Is there some sort of deal for Seattle to draft him?

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  6. To clear the confusion, we have 4 players signed already, who are:

    Freddie Ljungberg (Agreed that he’ll play an attacking central role)

    Kasey Keller (GK)

    Sanna Nyassi (Right wing) – Twin brother of Sainey Nyassi from the Revs

    Sebastien La Toux (F) Current USL Sounder – USL MVP – Open Cup top goal scorer, turned down MLS to enter with Sounders FC this year

    We also have (I think 10) free moves to take any USL players (not just current USL Sounders, but probably will be them)

    Possible to stick around and/or challenge for a spot are DM Kenji Treschuk, MF Kevin Sakuda, FW Roger Lavesque, FW Josh Gardner, DF Michael Rodriguez, center half Taylor Graham, and midfielder Leighton O’Brien.

    The USL side has been touring Argentina and scouts have been around the world for almost a year.

    Remember that these guys knocked off multiple MLS squads in the US Open for a few years running.

    It’s likely the team has signed more players, but didn’t want to tip their hand before the other MLS teams were forced to decide which 11 to protect.

    I think the draft can yield some talent, but don’t fool yourself into thinking the heart of Sounders FC is going to be coming from the expansion draft. I’d be surprised if more than three or four of next season’s starters are from the expansion draft.

    Reply
  7. Athority–you mis-state the SJ situation. SJ didn’t get good until they went out and used their allocations wisely. Plus they lucked out immensely with Darren Huckerby. If you look at ALL expansion teams in the MLS, what you find is the two teams that did the best (SJ who was dreadful for a lot of the season) and Chicago did get some good expansion picks but mostly, their teams were carried by international players they acquired from overseas (Nowak, Kosecki, Podbrozny, etc.). And Cannon proves my point EXACTLY. He wasn’t taken in the expansion draft. He was traded for.

    Justin, put down the crack pipe. Look at that lineup you proposed of the people you had Seattle selecting. It might be the worst backline in the MLS. Parke is fine. But Erpen? Prideaux is a solid journeyman. A midfield of Ricketts, Castro and Gaven isn’t bad IF you….(a) add a DP-quality A-mid and then (b) use an allocation on a quality D-mid (someone of Edu quality).

    If you look at MLS history, teams that rely on the expansion draft to provide a lot of starters are traditionally terrible teams. I think the attitude needs to be:

    –preserve cap space

    –use the draft to acquire draft picks or allocations

    –if 1 or 2 players are available that fit your system perfectly (ala Joe Cannon) than you pick them or trade for them. Otherwise, the vast majority of the players made available are guys with major holes in their game (James Riley) or contract issues (Parke) or health issues (Olsen).

    Seattle’s success (or failure) will be determined mostly by:

    –their allocations (DP and transfer signings): do Ljundberg, Keller and Co. make impacts (like Nowak and Huckerby did)?

    –their draft picks (do all of the draft picks prove to be wise and do 1-2 of them end up starting?

    –are they able to pull off 2 trades before the season starts to get quality starters?

    The expansion draft? Not so much.

    Reply
  8. I think the club most likely to get burned is Columbus with Eddie Gaven almost assuredly to be picked up by Seattle.

    He does come with a price tag, i.e. a contract worth $165,000 per year and the possibility of a move abroad. But here is the benefit to Seattle. If he is picked up and stays one more year in MLS (he is a six year veteran at age 22), has a good year for the Sounders, Seattle will benefit from his move abroad. They will get allocation money and other compensation.

    I would expect one other high price pick up as well.

    Reply
  9. To: The Athority

    Good point on having to play all these young cheap players. San Jose didn’t spend all their money before the season which allowed them to pick up some really good players during the season. I don’t think that is the way to do it (they should have picked up some good international players prior to the season), but they were prepapered to take advantage of having some money to pick up some good players because they weren’t stuck with too much large value. You can’t spend all your money during the expanision draft. Seattle has already spent some huge money on Freddie and Kasey so they need some cheap good players.

    Reply
  10. Eddie Gaven is easily the #1 player to take.

    He’s good and he’s young. Freddie will not play the wing in Seattle, he’s going to play centrally. If anyone watched him the past 2 years in the EPL, you know that he’s shot and has lost his speed.

    Even if Seattle doesn’t want Gaven for the long haul……..mid-season next year, any contender would be more than happy to trade for him.

    Reply
  11. Why would LA trade for Kirovski who makes over $200K a year. I certainly hope that they are negotiating a new contract for him. I have nothing against the guy, but what has he done to deserve this sort of pay check at his age (31 or 32)? I’m not a fan of LA, but you better have players that can deliver if they are being paid over a certain amount.

    Reply
  12. Trent, keep in mind that all teams have to trim their rosters. Andrew Peterson doesn’t really fit into the Crew’s roster next year unless a few 2008 starters will try and play in Norway or Austria.

    Reply
  13. John,

    Young cheap players might seem like gold, but look at history. Any team that loads up on cheap young players winds up SUCKING!! Look at Toronto.

    Then look at San Jose who took the best players available….such as Cannon, etc. They wanted to be good right away and almost made the play-offs.

    The Joe Vide’s of the world are good thoughts on paper……then you have to go out and try and win with them, and your team stinks.

    Reply
  14. RBNY protects Goldthwaite but not Parke? I don’t get it. Goldthwaite is awful (though he had a nice tackle in the box on Sunday).

    Reply
  15. RBNY protects Goldthwaite but not Parke? I don’t get it. Goldthwaite is awful (though he had a nice tackle in the box on Sunday).

    Reply
  16. Well, I’d take (considering salaries)…

    Lawson Vaughn (Chivas USA)

    Stephen King (Chicago Fire)

    Tim Ward (Colorado Rapids)

    Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew) – Brad Evans would be a good cheap option

    Quavas Kirk (D.C. United) – GA contract

    Nate Jaqua (Houston Dynamo) – Corey Ashe would be a good cheap option

    Jeff Parke (New York Red Bulls)

    Gabriel Badilla (New England Revolution) – They wont, but I would

    Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake)

    Johann Smith (Toronto FC)

    Reply
  17. Flores, Jorge (F)

    Prideaux, Brandon (D)

    Erpen, Facundo (D)

    Gaven, Eddie (M)

    Jaqua, Nate (F)

    Wahl, Tyson (D)

    Castro, Mauricio (M)

    Parke, Jeff (D)

    Joy, Ian (D)

    Ricketts, Rohan (M)

    There is no way Seattle doesn’t compete for a playoff spot in 2009…..no way.

    Reply
  18. This Guy – I don’t think any of us are questioning protecting Robinson over Prideaux. It’s Robinson over Pappa that we can’t get our heads around.

    Reply
  19. Seattle will pick Burse, then trade him to Columbus. That way they can get Evans and Lenhart.

    Columbus, please get rid of Gruenebaum.

    Reply
  20. arm:

    You said: “did I miss something? How did Adam Cristman get on the KC list?”

    You sure did. The Cristman trade to K.C. news is even in two places on this very page.

    I don’t understand the comments about Seattle being bad. This is easily the best pool of players an expansion team has ever had to choose from.

    Reply
  21. 1. Wow–Seattle is going to be bad! Well, at least they aren’t going to get much talent from the expansion list. I think if Seattle is smart, they won’t use all 10 picks.

    2. No–don’t take Razov. If you’re willing to spend $250k, you can find someone younger, faster and healthier. No Gaven. For $160k you can find a central American player who’ll give you just as much, maybe even more. No Pappas. Players on loan (like Kandji, like Pappas) will need to be purchased. If you have to purchase a player, why waste an expansion slot on them? That’s silly.

    3. If Seattle is smart, they’ll choose Petke and Marmol with the intention of keeping neither, and then deal both to RBNY for allocation money or picks. Petke supposedly wants to finish his career here, he’s a standup guy and great team leader, and we all know how JCO lusts after Marmol. They’ll choose Prideaux and Jaqua. Both of those guys hail from Seattle, are worthy MLS starters on an expansion team, aren’t too expensive and have enough experience that they’ll be decent team leaders. Maybe you choose Rod Dyachenko who is a young, cheap MLS veteran who hails from Vancouver WASHINGTON and can play a couple of attacking roles (viewing him as an initial starter but long-term a #13 or #14 player on the bench).

    Then you choose a young veteran GK making little money. Ray Burse? Steve Cronin maybe? A guy to give you depth, not give much of a cap hit and learn behind Kasey Keller. Or maybe you gamble you can sign someone at 30k who’ll be as good as Burse or Cronin so you pass on the GK option.

    After that, you look for MLS minimum salaries of AMERICAN players (so no international restrictions) who are young. Evans from Columbus is a no-brainer. Maybe, just maybe you go for James Riley who is relatively young, cheap, very fast, and versatile but will never be anything but mediocre. Abe Thompson isn’t MLS minimum salary but he’s a young, comparatively cheap American MLS vet who would be a pick for your first forward off the bench or late-game addition when you’re down a goal and go to 3 forwards.

    Maybe you take a gamble at Parke who would start for an expansion team, isn’t that expensive but will miss initial games (and a team with no depth really can’t afford that).

    Otherwise, the only other way (if I was Seattle’s GM) I keep picking is if there are great athletes making MLS minimum salary who are young, American, and are more than Calen Carr (ie: periennial scrubs who underperform–to be honest, James Riley might fall into that category as might my recommendation of Dyachenko). And if Seattle doesn’t go for Jaqua, then they go for Corey Ashe.

    Reply
  22. Ives, Thanks for the site and keep up the good work. What are the mechanics of the Exp Draft? When Seattle picks a player, e.g. Gaven in rd 1 from Columbus, does that mean all other Columbus players are safe? Do all the other teams get to add an additional player to their protected list?

    Reply
  23. I would go with this team

    Razov Ruiz

    Gaven

    Smith Lunjberg

    Olsen

    Burciaga Brown Parke Klein

    Onstad

    Definately not a bad expansion team in my opinion.

    Reply
  24. Ives,

    I dont see Terry Boss on any of the Red Bull lists. did they actually protect 3 goalies,( Boss, Conway, Cepero) or am I missing something?

    Reply
  25. so wait, how is angulo exposed if he doesn’t have a contract with NE? Does he have one? Or do they still just have his discovery rights?is that enough for him to be exposed to an expansion draft if he isn’t even on your roster? Well if it is enough, I’d say a smart move for New England who have their discovery rights expiring in december, leaving angulo free to go to any team. I still don’t get why they would put him on there, especially if he’s the talent everyone says he is…

    Reply
  26. (CH) Curtin, Jim

    (CO) Cooke, Terry

    (CC) Noonan, Pat

    (CF) Marmol, Lider

    (HD) Jaqua, Nate

    (KC) Wall, Tyson

    (NE) Thompson, Wells

    (NY) Jimenez, Diego

    (SL) Joy, Ian

    (TO) Smith, Johann

    Reply
  27. This Guy-

    Dunno bout Melo man, hes gotten little to no playing time in the last season or so, also i think he plays DM and is in a developmental contract so i dont see him getting picked (hes also canadian).

    Consensus seems to suggest JoSmith is going to. Pretty unhappy about that. Bloody Mo better find a superior replacement for the promise that kid has.

    Reply
  28. By the way,

    Thanks Ives. I have been looking for this all day and you never let me down with all I need to know about MLS news because I am a FIRE fan in Jan. and Feb. as staunch as I am in Oct. and Nov.

    Reply
  29. Biggest suprises for me?

    Toronto: Joey Melo and Johann Smith

    Those 2 could be their starting wings next season. They are that good.

    Dasan Robinson is protected over Pridueax because they are the same position but Robinson has more speed, the ability to push effectively and is 8 or so years younger.

    Dasan Robinson looked solid in the Reserve matches I have seen him in.

    Reply
  30. Please, Please, Please Seattle, take Wells Thompson from the Revs. I can’t bare watching him fumble the ball away any more. I promise he will be the nicest hardworking guy on your team and you’ll love him.

    But do not take:

    Badilla (because we need him to replace Parkhurst)

    Manzenelli (he’s going to be somebody)

    Tierney (he will be a natural left back for an aging and out of place Heaps)

    And as much as Khano is frustrating, we need to have him on the left wing.

    Reply
  31. Adzemian, Vardan

    Alamo, Charles

    Allen, Ely

    Barlow, Jeremy

    Cronin, Steve

    Dominguez, Eduardo

    Franchino, Joe

    Gavin, Michael

    Kirovski, Jovan

    Klein, Chris

    Munoz, Mike

    Randolph, Michael

    Saunders, Josh

    Tudela, Josh

    Vagenas, Peter

    Valentin, Julian

    Wicks, Josh

    ID be sad if klein went,hes been great for us.get both cronin and wicks out of here though!we need to get a real goalie!

    Reply
  32. If Seattle takes anyone from Chicago, it will be Prideaux, King or Woolard. Banner and Pappa have tons of potential and provided a spark when Chicago was losing, but neither has demonstrated that they can do anything more than provide an offensive spark when the Fire are losing (which is much easier for a quick, offensive-minded player to do after everyone else on the pitch has played 70+ minutes and the other team is holding onto a lead).

    Of course, Seattle could be looking for a few energy guys to come off the bench, in which case Banner or Pappa definitely fit the bill.

    Reply
  33. Seattle already have a good goalkeeper they could get from the USL team, why spend a draft pick on a backup for Keller?

    We also have already signed LeToux from the USL team, who is a solid striker, so I can’t really see them grabbing Razov and Noonan

    Reply
  34. Thanks Ives I’m enjoying this one…

    first impressions nothing definite here, if I were Seattle I’d pick the following;

    Goal keepers;

    dan Kennedy or ray burse

    good inexpensive keepers

    defense;

    prideaux Lawson vaughn wade barret jeff parke khano smith

    pitchkolan gonzalo Martinez marco velez Jordan Harvey

    Midfield; rohann ricketts brad evans (eddie gaven 2nd clb choice) corey ashe terry Cooke pat phelan, moffat

    Forwards; razov jaqua johan smith

    I may be missing a few and I’m naming more than one from each team in some cases (like Columbus) but this is more or less the pool of players that I would consider

    Reply
  35. Not too much to be concerned about for the Red Bulls. I like Mbuta a lot, but losing him wouldn’t be the end of the world. Aside from him, I think everyone else is replaceable.

    Reply
  36. I can see King on the list but by no means Pappa. He is a stud and i have a terrible feeling he is gone, which is sad cuz he is gonna blow up next year with us or them.

    Reply
  37. Shoot… I thought that Corey Ashe would be a guy that the Dynamo would have wanted to protect… Looks like they are looking for defenders and a keeper… Interesting…

    Reply

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