Teams around Major League Soccer will get instant upgrades on Wednesday when the league holds a dispersal draft for the players of now-defunct Chivas USA.
Several players will either be unavailable or have uncertain status heading into the draft. The Goats’ best asset is unavailable, as Erick “Cubo” Torres belongs to Liga MX’s Chivas. MLS may be working out a deal to buy the young Mexican star, but that won’t keep him in the draft.
Ecuador’s World Cup midfielder Oswaldo Minda is out of contract in December, so a team could theoretically choose him and try to work out a new contract. That seems unlikely, and a few other Chivas USA players were on loan to the club, so forget about Felix Borja, Leandro Barrera and Luis Bolanos. Eriq Zavaleta is Sounders property, while Eric Avila is being sold to Santos Laguna.
[ MLS: Philadelphia adds former Fulham boss Meulensteen ]
There’s also the ban on trading picks, though one wonders if that prohibits teams from trading the players after they’ve been selected.
So where does that leave us for the draft? Let’s try mocking it out. There will likely be more than a few “passes” here, but we’ll assume everyone takes a player and have a little fun with a lot of spitballing.
1. FC Dallas - The top player on the board is goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, who worked wonders for the Goats. But FCD doesn’t necessarily need an upgrade at keeper with Peru national teamer Raul Fernandez and longtime backup Chris Seitz in the fold. Will they choose Kennedy?
I don’t think so. For one thing, Oscar Pareja has already worked with Chivas USA midfielders Marvin Chavez and Nathan Strugis in Colorado. Plus, there are arguments to be made for a pair of Texas-born players, forward Kris Tyrpak and defender Bobby Burling, but I think in the end it will be hard for Pareja and company to pass on 19-year-old Homegrown midfielder Marco “Marky” Delgado.
2. New York City FC - If Dallas leaves Kennedy alone, NYCFC is in the catbird seat. To be able to walk into MLS with an established goalkeeper who knows the league would be a boon for the expansion side. With Orlando City having traded for Tally Hall, the league would have two new teams with experienced keepers. The pick is Dan Kennedy.
3. Sporting Kansas City - They need goals, but Chivas USA only scored 29 so there aren’t exactly loads to go around. Given the injury problems that thrust Erik Palmer-Brown into the Starting XI this summer, Sporting goes for an instant boost on D. Burling is a possibility, but I think Andrew Jean-Baptiste moves to KC.
4. DC United - They know how to defend, so DC United settles for the hopes of production by adding winger Marvin Chavez
5. New England Revolution - Chivas USA only saw second-round midfielder Thomas McNamara for a limited time, but the man made an impact before suffering a major knee injury. Jay Heaps can bet on the New York native and see what happens.
After this point, total crapshoot:
6. Montreal Impact - Caleb Calvert, HGP and F
7. Orlando City SC- Agustin Pelletieri, CDM
8. Colorado Rapids - Kris Tyrpak, F
9. San Jose Earthquakes - Bobby Burling, D
10. Real Salt Lake - Matt Dunn, M
11. Houston Dynamo - Ryan Finley, F
12. Portland Timbers - Tony Lochhead, D
13. Chicago Fire - Akira Kaji, D
14. Toronto FC - Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, D
15. Columbus Crew SC - Trevor Spangenberg, GK
16. LA Galaxy -Oswaldo Minda, M
17. Philadelphia Union - Martin Rivero, M
18. New York Red Bulls - Donny Toia, D
19. Seattle Sounders FC - Nathan Sturgis, M
20. Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Michael Nwiloh, D