NEW YORK – Details have been released regarding the MLS Expansion Draft that will take place on Wed., Nov. 24.
Existing MLS clubs can protect 11 players, which must include any Designated Players with no-trade clauses. Generation adidas players and Home Grown players are automatically excluded from the Expansion Draft and do not need to be protected.
Also, MLS teams cannot dump all their international players into the Expansion Draft. A team with more than three internationals can only leave three fewer than their total of international players unprotected. Teams with three or fewer international players cannot leave more than one international player unprotected. American players are not considered internationals for Toronto FC. Canadians are considered internationals for American clubs.
The final list of unprotected “available” players will be distributed to the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps two days before the Expansion Draft.
Portland and Vancouver will then alternate Expansion Draft picks over 10 rounds, with the Timbers getting things started with the first overall pick.
The rules say that no existing MLS club can lose more than two players in the Expansion Draft. After a team has one player claimed by Portland or Vancouver, that team has the right to protect another player and pull his name off the Expansion Draft list.
