Previewing The 2010 Expansion Draft
by Martin Shatzer on Aug 4, 2025 10:01 AM EDT
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PrintWith the ending of D.C. United’s season all but official, it’s time to look towards the future.
United has plenty of young and promising players who will continue to develop and contribute over the coming years. What sucks though is that we might be losing one or two of them in November.
Yes, the expansion draft is just over three months away, and it’s never too early to start preparations.
With two new franchises entering MLS in 2011, and utilizing the assumption that the drafting rules will be identical to those used in the past, 20 players will change teams just a few days after the MLS Cup. Ten will go to the Vancouver Whitecaps, and ten will go to the Portland Timbers. I’ve always thought that it’s a shame that one or two players will only get to celebrate with their MLS Cup winning team for two or three days before being shipped out of town. Seems a bit harsh, but that’s the reality.
If the rules are not different from previous expansion drafts then each MLS team will get to protect ten current players. But there’s one thing that might be different this year.
At least I really hope it’s different.
New to the formal MLS roster rules in 2010 was the addition of homegrown players – young players signed directly from a team’s developmental academy who do not count against the maximum 24-man roster. D.C. United has used this rule to their advantage more than any other team in the league. United has two homegrown players – Andy Najar and Bill Hamid – and each is probably worthy of protection in an expansion draft.
I have a feeling that the league will rule that homegrown players do not need to be protected in order to remain with their current teams. That has always been the rule for Generation Adidas players, and it’s likely that it will be the same for homegrown players.
If United doesn’t have to include Najar and Hamid in their list of ten protected players, the team isn’t likely to lose a key contributor in the draft. If not though, we could be in trouble. I’m sure Kevin Payne is lobbying the league as we speak to make sure that they go the right way with this.
Getting down to business, and making the assumption that homegrown players are safe, there are certain obvious choices for D.C. United: Chris Pontius, Santino Quaranta, Rodney Wallace, Clyde Simms, Dejan Jakovic, Julius James, Branko Boskovic, and Pablo Hernandez. That’s eight.
As for the last two spots, arguments can be made for several individuals:
Troy Perkins – The team gave up a lot to get him, and when he is playing well, he is among the best goalkeepers in MLS.
Marc Burch – Protected in years past, but hasn’t been a big factor this season due to injuries. The next three months will be huge for him.
Devon McTavish – Versatile utility player seems to have landed the starting right back position. The team has left him exposed previously.
Jordan Graye – The team’s fourth round draft pick and regular starter up until last week has shown plenty of maturity as well as potential.
Danny Allsopp – If Hernandez can help him get on track and start scoring, he might make this a hard decision.
Jaime Moreno – Olsen retired just days before the draft last year. What will Moreno do?
Stephen King – Many thought the Union would select him last year after the Sounders left him exposed. Could be a popular target again.
Kurt Morsink – Has the potential to be a league MVP (God I hope the Portland and Vancouver general managers read this!)
Who would you like to see D.C. United protect?
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Najar and Hamid are safe
It is my understanding that players signed under the “homegrown” banner that don’t go through the draft are considered part of the Generation Adidas program. In past expansion drafts those players were automatically protected.
by denz on Aug 4, 2025 10:08 AM EDT reply actions
Sweet
That would make a lot of sense, and I think that’s what the league SHOULD do. I’ll feel better once I see that in writing though
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.
by Martin Shatzer on Aug 4, 2025 11:09 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
yeah I am still waiting
to see the final version of the complete CBA, which should have a lot of these details. I do remember reading it somewhere when they announced the addition of the new roster slots.
by denz on Aug 4, 2025 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm not worried about this
denz is right about homegrown players fitting under the GA banner. I wish I could find the article that said this, but it is out there.
by ChestRockwell on Aug 4, 2025 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Perkins
is the key choice here. I really don’t know what to make of the guy at this point… the performances I’m seeing out there this season are completely divorced from what was on display in his first stint here. “Losing” him to an expansion team could be a net benefit for DCU. But the choice to expose or protect is wrapped up in psychology, too: would Troy respond to such a strong statement by management by focusing and working harder, or would he become disheartened?
I think we would be well served by protecting Graye and King, who are both, at a minimum, useful squaddies with upside. So I’m inclined to expose Troy and see what happens. But I’m not in the locker room, and that angle needs to be considered also.
by Stunned Duck on Aug 4, 2025 10:51 AM EDT reply actions
I’d say Perkins for sure. Not sure about the last choice. I wouldn’t protect Moreno, but I hope Vancouver and Portland aren’t douchey enough to take him (or hopefully he retires first). I want to say we should protect Allsopp, but he needs to reach his potential first.
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by Jake Shapiro on Aug 4, 2025 11:11 AM EDT reply actions
I kinda played with this exercise the other day using last year’s rules, and if we’re protecting internationals, I’m leaving Allsopp out there, unless he starts finding runs and goals in league matches.
Basaed on them leaving McTavish out there I’d presume they’d do it again and hold onto Graye, but if Burch regains some sort of form over the next couple of months I’d leave him out there instead, and keep MacTavish for the ability to play both sides.
It takes...something? Anything?!?
by Bald Pollack on Aug 4, 2025 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Allsopp
There is room on the protection list for Allsopp, but he hasn’t proved that he deserves it yet. The next three months will decide whether he has a future in MLS
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.
by Martin Shatzer on Aug 4, 2025 2:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Can we nix the It Takes More thing and start a whole Future = Now campaign?
I believe Moreno has been left exposed in years past, under the belief that his salary would eat up too much cap space on an expansion team.
For the love of all things left footed, though, please don’t protect Burch. I like the guy as much as anybody, but he’s never been a starting quality MLS left back, or center back.
by The AMT on Aug 4, 2025 12:08 PM EDT reply actions
Agree that this may be a good year for Jaime to hang them up. Had his all-star victory lap. Can head out in glory as the all time goal leader (until LD eclipses him) And helps the team protect a younger player.
Heartily agree with protecting Hernandez among the forwards although I’m intrigued to see what Alsop will do with Branko. Think McT and King could both go in an expansion draft.
I could see an expansion team grabbing Troy.
Agree on Morsink, please Vancouver, don’t take him from us! Don’t take Burch either Portand!
by Irrlicht on Aug 4, 2025 1:58 PM EDT reply actions
For the eyes of Tommy Soehn up there in Vancouver
You always had a great eye for talent. Remember how great Marc Burch was when you were down here in DC? Man, you guys had some great times together. Disregard my earlier comment on his quality - what do I know? I’m just an internet fanatic. You’re a technical director. And you know what you want. And what you want is laser rocket leg Marc Burch.
by The AMT on Aug 4, 2025 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
This is very tricky
Hernandez is only on loan. Obviously he’s a keeper if we can swing it, but if Defensor Sporting wants him back, there’s no reason to protect him. We should have a Plan B in place in case he’s only a short-term rental (which would be very disappointing).
Also, what if Namoff returns? It’s unlikely, but you never know. If he comes back, we don’t really need to protect our other potential right backs.
Here are the players that I feel we should absolutely protect:
1. Branko Boskovic
2. Dejan Jakovic
3. Pablo Hernandez
4. Clyde Simms
5. Julius James
6. Chris Pontius
That’s it. I think everyone else is playing for their spot on the team at this point, and that includes guys like Quaranta and Wallace (who was having a worse season in 2010 than his rookie year). Those two, Perkins, McTavish, Graye, and King all seem like the guys with the best chances of taking those last 4 spots, but someone is going to be left out.
I doubt either team will take Moreno, because he would probably retire and make it a wasted pick (remember that trade back in the day that saw Nowak go to the Revs, only for him to immediately hang up his boots? It’d be the same thing).
As for Allsopp and Burch, I just don’t think they’re up to snuff. Allsopp has had 2 good performances in competitive games this year, and only one of those was against an actual MLS opponent. To be blunt, I’m done with him. His anonymous showing at RSL was the last straw. Burch, meanwhile, does have the chance to prove himself, but I have strong doubts. He’s never been good enough before, and now he’s coming off of a very long layoff. What would cause the big leap forward that he’d need to be good enough to protect?
by ChestRockwell on Aug 4, 2025 5:54 PM EDT reply actions
Are we counting that Kansas City game as against a team of MLS caliber?
That was the only other game Allsopp looked halfway decent in, and even then that was halfway decent amongst a terrible mess of players.
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by Chris Pendley on Aug 4, 2025 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Alsopp
What about the theory that Alsopp is making the right runs but not being rewarded by the midfield?
by Irrlicht on Aug 6, 2025 1:13 PM EDT reply actions
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