There weren’t any big surprises, but MLS released the official rules of the Expansion Draft on Thursday.
Major League Soccer Expansion: The Rules Are Set
Among the rules:
- The draft will be held on Nov. 24
- The 16 current teams will be allowed to protect 11 players from their senior and developmental rosters
- Only Generation adidas and home grown players are exempt
- Designated players are not automatically protected and can be exposed to the expansion draft unless they have a no-trade clause
- No team can lose more than two players; once a team loses a player that team can protect one additional player
- Vancouver and Portland will each pick 10 players
The expansion draft has proven a useful tool for teams in the past. Sebastian Le Toux, for instance, was the prize of last year’s draft. All 10 players the Union selected made the opening day roster and eight of those players are still with the team.
Almost two full seasons after the Sounders participated in the draft, they still have eight of the 10 players they selected and three of them are regular starters.
This year’s draft is expected to have plenty of talent and could even include a Designated Player or two being exposed.
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