2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Stage 1: Arturo Alvarez, Carlos Mendes, Danleigh Borman Picked

Three players were picked in Stage 1 of the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft on Monday, one more than was taken in that phase of the draft last year. Danleigh Borman, Arturo Alvarez and Carlos Mendes were all picked, meaning their new teams will have honor their current contracts or offer them a 5 percent raise over what they made last year if they are currently out of contract. Stage 2 of the draft will take place next Monday and is expected to be more active, as teams can renegotiate the players' contracts.

Alvarez was probably the most surprising player to be picked, as he was likely due a raise on a contract that paid him more than $200,000 last year and Chivas USA is not exactly known for lavishing players with big money. With Real Salt Lake in 2011, Alvarez played in 16 games, but made just eight starts. He only registered a single assist in more than 724 minutes. Alvarez does have a decent MLS track record, having scored at least three goals in six straight seasons heading into 2011 and registering at least six points in four of those seasons.

Borman's selection was probably the most predictable. Last year, he made the league minimum ($42,000), and while he was likely due a raise, he is a decent MLS fullback. He has made at least 15 MLS appearances in each of his four seasons, albeit mostly for teams that weren't very good. There's a good chance he'll start for the New England Revolution, who made him the first pick of the draft.

The Columbus Crew finished off the active stage of the draft by selecting Mendes, a MLS veteran who made just about $100,000 last year. Mendes was the last Red Bulls player to have been with the team during their MetroStars days. He is coming off a season in which he made 16 starts and played 1,505 minutes.