As the league expands, we can hear the groans and aches from across the nation as managers are forced into picking players they want to keep — implying, of course, that there's plenty of dead wood all over — and picking which players they really don't mind going elsewhere. This year, we've got the Montreal Impact ready to come in, and they'll have a 10-round draft in which they'll pick ten players.
Each club can protect 11 of their players, and that decision must be made by November 21. Generation Adidas players and homegrown players will be automatically protected, and designated players only need to be protected if they have a no-trade clause in their contract. [http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/content/2012-expansion-draft-rules] Players with contracts expiring at the end of 2011 are still considered part of the roster, and may or may not be protected.
Who, then, should Kreis and Lagerwey protect, and who are they willing to let go?
Automatic Protections: Donny Toia (F), Nico Muniz (M) — both are homegrown players and will not need to be protected.
Potentially Automatic: Luis Gil, if he does not graduate from the Generation Adidas program at the end of the season, will be protected. There's not yet any word on whether he'll be graduated from the program.
Definitely Protect: Nick Rimando (GK), Jamison Olave (CB), Nat Borchers (CB), Chris Schuler (CB), Tony Beltran (RB), Kyle Beckerman (CDM), Will Johnson (CM), Ned Grabavoy (CM), Javier Morales (AM), Fabian Espindola (ST), Alvaro Saborio (ST)
Potentially Protect: Chris Wingert (LB), Chris Schuler (CB), Robbie Russell (RB), Andy Williams (AM)
Wish We Could Protect, but Probably Can't or Won't: Cody Arnoux (ST), Paulo Jr. (ST), Chris Agorsor (ST), Kyle Reynish (GK)
Could Go Either Way: Jean Alexandre (CM/ST), Collen Warner (CM), Blake Wagner (LB)
Do not protect: Yordany Alvarez (CDM), Nelson Gonzalez (AM) as they are only on loan at current. Arturo Alvarez (AM), Rauwshan McKenzie (CB), Tim Melia (GK)
I'll write more about this as it gets closer, but here's what I'd do right now. Now, perhaps we'll work something with Montreal where it won't be an issue, or perhaps they won't pick anyone at all. But as it stands, we could lose a player — and if we're lucky, perhaps it'll be somebody we might have been looking to ship off anyway.
We do have the very talented but lackluster attacking midfielder in Arturo Alvarez that might be shipped off anyway — that remains to be seen. Of course, he could still make a huge difference in the playoffs — that much remains to be seen. Part of our protection also depends on Luis Gil not graduating from GA at this point. If he does, then we may want to reshape our list. It'll be interesting: That much is certain.
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