There were any number of ways Major League Soccer could have decided to liquidate Chivas USA's roster. So, perhaps it's predictable that MLS created a whole new way to allocate players.
MLS Dispersal Draft is predictably more complicated than it needs to be
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No, the players won’t be allowed to simply go into free agency (there’s no such thing in MLS). No, the Dispersal Draft won’t simply be in the reverse order of the regular-season standings (that would be too straightforward as it would follow every other draft the league holds). No, it won’t even be in an NBA-lottery with each non-playoff team being assigned a different weighted chance of receiving the top pick.
Instead, MLS has created a new method: A blind, lightly weighted draw. Here’s how it will work:
- On Nov. 14, The eight non-playoff teams as well expansion sides New York City FC and Orlando City will each by assigned two envelopes. The 10 playoff teams will be assigned one envelope.
- A league designated official will then blindly pick envelopes until each of the 20 teams has a spot assigned.
- The draft will then be held on Nov. 19, and the teams will go through the list picking players until no players remain or every team has passed.
- Any player selected will need to be have their 2015 option picked up and the selecting team will need to absorb the full salary-cap hit, as well as any associated loan or transfer fees. This will all be conducted on a private conference call, but video of the draw will be made available to the public.
Perhaps the single most important thing the league confirmed on Friday was that Erick “Cubo” Torres will not be made available. Torres has said he’s currently weighing an offer from MLS that would reportedly pay him about $1.5 million a year or remain with Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara. If he does join MLS, the league would reportedly have to pay a $7.5 million transfer fee. There was no announcement as to how Torres will be allocated.
Among the players who are likely to be selected are goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, 18-year-old forward Caleb Calvert, 19-year-old midfielder Marco Delgado and center back Andrew Jean-Baptiste.
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