On November 19, the 20 teams which will play in MLS in 2015 will take part in the a dispersal draft for former players of the now defunct Chivas USA franchise. A handful of teams will have the chance to pick up players who can contribute to their teams in the upcoming season. The rest will probably just sit and watch. After all, Chivas USA went 9-19-6 in 2014, earning only 33 points and were clearly one of the worst teams in the league. There are talented players available, but there aren’t a ton of them. The Portland Timbers hold the 12th pick in the dispersal draft.
There are three things the Timbers should consider as they plan their strategy for the dispersal draft.
Kennedy or Bust? What Timbers Might Do in Chivas USA Dispersal Draft
1. Is there anyone available who would be an improvement on someone in the Timbers 2014 starting 11?
Cubo Torres will not be available in the draft, MLS has already made that clear, so that narrows the list down considerably. The biggest holes in the Portland starting 11 this season were defensively. Portland absolutely needs to find a starting CB partner for Liam Ridgewell, and while both Alvas Powell and Jorge Villafana made strides over the course of the season, both upgrading at either left or right back isn’t out of the question.
That said, there isn’t anyone on the Chivas roster who really fills those spots. John Kennedy Hurtado and Andrew Jean-Baptiste are both decent options for a team looking for CB depth, but neither would be the upgrade Portland is looking for.
The obvious choice if Portland is looking for a starter would be GK Dan Kennedy. Depending on Donovan Ricketts’ contract situation, Portland may be looking for a new starting GK for the 2015 season. If that’s the case Kennedy would be an obvious solution given that Portland wouldn’t have to give anything up to get him. The problem is Kennedy is almost certainly the most coveted player available, meaning he’s not likely to be available with the 12th pick. At least four teams with picks ahead of Portland could be in the market for a starting GK, and any of the other teams could select Kennedy with the intention of trading him.
2. Is there anyone available who could provide solid depth or be a temporary replacement for the injured Will Johnson and Diego Valeri?
Here’s where things are more interesting and there are a few options. Johnson and Valeri are both injured and likely to miss the early part of the season. There’s also the Expansion Draft to consider, where Portland will likely lose somebody who has contributed off the bench. Finding someone to fill any of those holes in this draft would be a win for Portland.
Marky Delgado is a 19-year old midfielder who has experience in MLS at central midfield, wide midfield, and both fullback spots in his two seasons. He’s a young talented player who could provide depth and talent. Delgado has a fairly low salary, which could tempt the Timbers, who will have some salary cap issues to deal with following the loss of their additional CCL allocation.
Oswaldo Minda could fill in while Will Johnson is recovering from injury and serve as depth once Johnson is back. However, his contract reportedly expires in December, so there is a question of whether or not he will even be in the draft. He also probably earns too much to be a long term backup. If available, he’s a destroyer in the midfield who could be a good temporary partner for Chara but he doesn’t seem a likely choice.
Thomas McNamara is another young midfielder who was impressive before an ACL tear ended his rookie season. He’s probably more of a “potential” player though rather than an depth option.
In terms of talent, Marvin Chavez would be worth consideration. He’s a solid player and an MLS veteran, but he may be too expensive for the Timbers.
3. Are there any players who could contribute to Timbers 2, Portland’s new USL Pro side?
McNamara and Delgado could also fall into this section, especially as both come back from knee injuries. Forward Caleb Calvert is only 18 years old and has showed clear evidence of talent. Midfielder Matt Dunn is 20 years old and while he only made seven appearances for Chivas USA in 2014, he spent time in Grasshopper Club Zurich’s youth system and spent two years in 1. FC Koln system in Germany, so he could be worth taking a chance on.
When it comes down to picking players, unless Ricketts is out of contract or retiring and Portland can get Kennedy the most likely option is probably taking a young player for the USL Pro side, if anything. There’s nobody on the Chivas USA roster whose talent demands they be taken AND fits a definite need for the Timbers. Don’t be surprised if Portland simply sits this one out.
Whether or not the Timbers take anyone in the Chivas dispersal draft, expect them to be active once the trade window and various drafts begin the day after the MLS Cup Final.
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