MLS Re-Entry Draft: D.C. United passes in Stage One, as do most teams

In a completely unsurprising development, D.C. United joined sixteen other MLS clubs in opting to pass in today's stage of the Re-Entry Draft. Selecting someone in Stage One obliges the club to pick up their contract as it is today, and historically this has discouraged selections. Last year's busier RED - United acquired Sean Franklin and Bobby Boswell in Stage One, while three other teams added one player - looks like an outlier.

While the vast majority of MLS clubs went the same way United did, there were three selections. Picking first, the Montreal Impact added goalkeeper Eric Kronberg, formerly of Sporting Kansas City. Kronberg will have a fight on his hands for minutes, though, as Evan Bush managed to displace former United GK Troy Perkins late this summer.

KC goalkeepers were popular, as the San Jose Earthquakes grabbed Andy Gruenebaum with the second pick. Gruenebaum is probably the better of the two ex-Sporks, and should be the slight favorite to start for the Quakes next year. He'll have to out-duel David Bingham for the job though.

Finally, with the sixth pick, Toronto FC grabbed Robbie Findley from Real Salt Lake. The USMNT World Cup veteran - I am legally obligated to mention that fact - was definitely the surprise pick of this stage. The 29 year old striker scored just one goal in 764 MLS minutes for RSL this year, and occasionally struggled to make the gameday squad. While his speed may have been enticing for someone in Stage Two, no one was expecting any takers today given his $245,500 guaranteed salary (plus whatever raises are built in for 2015).

United could have added a low-cost depth player today, but in all likelihood those players will still be available after the RED. That section of the roster is more likely to be one where Ben Olsen and Dave Kasper prefer to offer training camp invites rather than actually committing money to a player that might end up beaten in camp by a draft pick or free agent.