The San Jose Earthquakes announced today the list of 11 players who will be protected in Wednesday's expansion draft.
Protected from what? Well here is a quick reminder:
As an expansion team, Philadelphia will have the right to pick 10 players of their choice from the 15 other teams. They can only pick one player from each team and each team can protect 11 players.
Last year, the San Jose Earthquakes had lost James Riley to the Seattle Sounders.
Here is the list:
San Jose Earthquakes protected players:
- Joe Cannon – goalkeeper
- Bobby Burling, Bobby – defender
- Jason Hernandez – defender
- Chris Leitch – defender
- Brandon McDonald – defender
- Ramiro Corrales – midfielder
- Andre Luiz - midfielder
- Ramon Sanchez - midfielder
- Arturo Alvarez – midfielder / Forward
- Cornell Glen – forward
- Ryan Johnson – forward
Which leaves unprotected:
- Mike Graczyk – goalkeeper
- Andrew Weber – goalkeeper
- Aaron Pitchkolan – defender
- Jamil Roberts – defender
- Mike Zaher - defender
- Simon Elliott – midfielder
- Antonio Ribeiro – midfielder
- Shea Salinas – midfielder
- Bobby Convey – midfielder
- Chris Wondolowski – forward
- Quincy Amarikwa – forward
- Darren Huckerby (retires) – midfielder
Darren Huckerby being injured and probably retiring, the next unprotected name that attracts the attention is Bobby Convey's. However, his very high salary combined with his poor performances in 2009 probably made the Quakes staff believe that he won't be picked.
This still leaves some quality players available and, unless the Quakes are lucky enough to be one of the 5 teams not to be involved in the draft, they will probably loose Shea Salinas, Aaron Pitchkolan or Mike Zaher, or maybe Chris Wondolowski if his good performances in the last part of the season have been noticed
Quincy Amarikwa and Antonio Ribeiro could also be attractive targets but their lack of MLS experience (only one season and a few games for both of them) will probably prevent 2010's expansion team from thinking about them.
Expansion Draft
Expansion Draft...
Thanks for your comment Mark.
There is still a chance that no one will be picked. Only 10 teams out of 15 will have a player picked.
Only 11 players can be protected, so you necessarily have to leave a few valuable players unprotected.
I know a lot of fans don't understand why Salinas has not been protected.
I am actually more surprised about Pitchkolan. The few times he has played for the Quakes he looked strong, self assured and efficient. I would even say impressive. I thought he would be a good match with Hernandez.
Maybe the way he let the team down when he got injured was not appreciated by the staff. Or maybe they think (know?) he might not entirely recover from his injury. I still think it would be a great loss. The Quakes have struggled building a decent defense in 2009 and it will be important to be able to rely on 2 strong central defenders who can play together for more than 2 games in a row without one (or both) of them getting injured, suspended or traded because of questionable performances.
Seeing Corrales on the protected list is not a surprise. He is the team captain, his contract has just been renewed. Two signs showing that the staff count on him more than anyone else. Whether you agree on his ability or not (and you are right, corrales' 2009 season was not good), this team needs stability more than anything else. Last year's constant turn over in the roster was the main reason of the overall failure. Frank Yallop can't afford to loose one of his 2 or 3 team leaders remaining.