Expansion Draft Guide

By: Ian | November 23rd, 2008

Well Quakes fans, is everyone ready for MLS’ version of Russian Roulette?  Otherwise known as the expansion draft, Frank Yallop will have some tough decisions to make.  It’s scheduled for Wednesday, November 26th, so here’s a little guide of who’s on our roster, their status, and what Yallop might be thinking.  Finally, I’ll finish with my list of who I would protect and who I would leave exposed.  Also, we have to keep in mind that the league has decided to eliminate the reserve league next season, meaning that we will be losing 6 developmental spots (while gaining 2 senior spots)

First off, here’s the rules.  11 players can be protected.  You have to protect your total number of internationals minus three (for us, that means we have to protect three).  We can only have one player taken from us.  Here we go.

Arturo Alvarez (Mid/Forward): $166K salary.  Senior status.  23 yrs. old.

Had a pretty good year after arriving from Dallas, coming through with some important goals.  He has a higher salary, but also is younger and still has some upside.  At times can disappear from games or not put in enough effort.  Has good ball skills and can slip through defenses.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: High

Mikel Arce (Forward): $13K salary.  Developmental/International status.  24 yrs. old.

We didn’t get to see much of him this year, but he has shown some promise.  One of several young developmental players we have with potential.  His international status might lead to him being protected. 

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Jay Ayres (Defender): $18K salary.  Senior status.  22 yrs. old.

Had a nasty injury early in the season, but looks to be a good defender in the making. 

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Joe Cannon (Keeper): $213K salary.  Senior status.  33 yrs. old.

What can you say?  A Quake through and through.  Club legend.  Still a great keeper.  Had a bit of a shaky start to the season, but regained his form and saved us many times.  A definite keeper (no pun intended). 

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Medium (Seattle already have Kasey Keller, but Cannon would be tempting to pick up as great trade bait)

Ryan Cochrane (Defender): $132K salary.  Senior status.  25 yrs. old.

Didn’t have the best of seasons, and was prone to mistakes, especially in the first half of the year.  Scored a key goal against L.A., and looked very solid in the last few games.  One of the tougher calls to make.  Could be a quality defender for years to come, but will he continue to be a liability in the future?

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: High (He may have been mistake-prone, but it would be hard for an expansion team to pass up a defender like him)

Ramiro Corrales (Defender/Mid): $190K salary.  Senior status.  31 yrs. old.

Had a great season back with the Quakes.  Played a key stabilizing role in the center of the park, especially when he had Lima to work with.  Have to protect him.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: High

John Cunliffe (Forward): $36K salary.  Senior/International status.  24 yrs. old.

Got a few looks in the first team squad, but wasn’t effective enough.  Still could have some upside, but you would expect him to have made a bigger impact on some team by now, if it was going to happen for him.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Eric Denton (Defender): $55K salary.  Senior status.  30 yrs. old.

Let’s face it, on the whole, he was a lot more solid that I or anyone else predicted when he was first acquired.  He ended up being a fixture at left back which is surprising for a journeyman like him.  Still, there are many players out there who would be an improvement at that position.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Medium

Nick Garcia (Defender): $138K salary.  Senior status.  29 yrs. old.

The Quakes captain and helped anchor a pretty solid defense all season.  Still has a few good years left in him.  It would be hard to justify leaving him exposed. 

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: High

Michael Ghebru (Forward): $13K salary.  Developmental/International status.  21 yrs. old.

Similar situation to Arce.  Young, promising, and his international status may lead to him being protected.

Likelhood of being taken if exposed: Low

Gavin Glinton (Forward): $60K salary.  Senior status.  29 yrs. old.

 Missed much of the season through injury, and was fairly ineffective when he did get playing time in the beginning of the year.  Would be hard to find any justification for protecting him.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Ned Grabavoy (Midfielder): $90K salary.  Senior status.  25 yrs. old.

Didn’t really happen for Ned this year, leading to him losing his starting spot once Lima entered the picture.  When Ramiro went out with injury, Grabavoy got another chance, but again came up short.  Not clear if he fits into Yallop’s system.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Medium

Kelly Gray (Def/Mid): $38K salary.  Senior status.  27 yrs. old.

Didn’t have as great a stint with the Quakes as the first time around.  Was played in the middle of the park in midfield and defence, which aren’t his strengths.  Would have been more interesting to see him in the right back position, which he played in 2005.  A good utility player, but probably doesn’t justify taking up a protected spot.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Medium

Michael Gustavson (Keeper): $13K salary.  Senior status.  21 yrs. old.

Our backup keeper.  We need one of those, but we can always find another one if need be.  Plus, fat chance he’ll ever be taken by Seattle. 

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Matt Hatzke (Def/Mid): $13K salary.  Developmental status.  22 yrs. old.

One of our reserves.  The roster cuts mean that even if he survives the expansion draft (which he probably will), he probably won’t make the final cut after the reserves are eliminated.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Jason Hernandez (Defender): $47K salary.  Senior status.  25 yrs. old.

He wasn’t the team defensive MVP for nothing.  After a period of adjustment in the beginning, he became a rock in the heart of the defense, cementing a position alongside Garcia.  Has many good years ahead of him, so keep him at all costs!

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: High

Darren Huckerby (MId/Forward): $330K salary.  Senior/International status.  32 yrs. old.

Don’t really have to say much.  Keep him, no brainer.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Bet your life on it

Ryan Johnson (Mid/Forward): $33K salary.  Senior status.  24 yrs. old.

A revelation for us this season.  Where did this guy come from?  From a bit/reserve player on other sides, he became a starting forward for much of the season, and then a quality sub after Alvarez and Sealy came in.  A bruising forward who plays with a lot of heart, with plenty of years ahead of him. 

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Medium

Jovan Kirovski (Mid/Forward): $220K salary.  Senior status.  32 yrs. old.

A whole lot of salary for not much production.  Yallop brought him in, hoping he would regain his form.  It didn’t happen.  Highly doubtful that Seattle would pick him up given his price tag and age.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Francisco Lima (Mid): $195K salary.  Senior/International status.  37 yrs. old.

Played a key role in the center of the park and in helping to turn our season around.  However, it looks like he won’t be returning, as he has said he wants to pursue a club who can give him more money (probably in Europe).  Probably a safe bet to leave him exposed, as Seattle likely won’t want to gamble on convincing him to stay, especially at his age. 

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Ronnie O’Brien (Mid): $240K salary.  Senior status.  29 yrs. old.

Held the fort down until reinforcements arrived, and hit the next gear when they did.  A quality player and valuable veteran who we have to hold onto.  Yallop could gamble on the fact that Seattle won’t want to gamble on a player with a bad history on artificial turf, but it’s a dangerous bet, as he would be good trade bait.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: High

James Riley (Def/Mid): $33K salary.  Senior status.  26 yrs. old.

Had a fairly horrible start to the season, but settled down into a good defender.  Yet Yallop may feel he could be easily replaced. 

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Medium

Jamil Roberts (Defender): $18K salary.  Senior developmental status.  22 yrs. old.

Maybe in the same boat as Hatzke.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Shea Salinas (Mid): $33K salary.  Senior status.  22 yrs. old.

Developed throughout the season, with a breakout performance in the last game against Toronto.  It seems likely that he is not just potential, but will most likely develop into a dangerous winger for many years to come.  Keep him at all costs.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: High

Scott Sealy (Forward): $35K salary.  27 yrs. old.

Another member of the want-away-to-Europe club.  Put in some quality performances after he arrived midseason, but faded towards the end.  Best not to waste a protected spot on him.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Adam Smarte (Def/Forward): $18K salary.  Senior developmental status.  21 yrs. old.

Actually got a runout in the first team as a fullback, but didn’t perform well.  May be another victim of roster cuts.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Low

Davide Somma (Mid/Forward): $13K salary.  Developmental status.  23 yrs. old.

Probably the youngster with the most potential after Salinas.  Got more and more playing time as the season came to a close.  If he can survive the expansion draft, he should survive the roster cuts.

Likelihood of being taken if exposed: Medium

MY EXPANSION DRAFT LIST

Finally, here is what my list would look like.

1. Joe Cannon

2. Darren Huckerby  [Int]

3. Jason Hernandez

4. Nick Garcia

5. Ronnie O’Brien

6. Shea Salinas

7. Arturo Alvarez

8. Ramiro Corrales

9. Ryan Johnson

10. Michael Ghebru [Int]

11. Mikel Arce [Int]

The international rules make things hard, as I probably wouldn’t protect the last two if it wasn’t for that requirement.  But such is life, and that’s my list.

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