One week ago, I predicted that the MLS off-season would get started with a bang. I was wrong. It started with an earth-shaking, landscape-altering explosion. And it only gets better from here.
On Wednesday, Major League Soccer will hold Stage Two of its Re-Entry Draft. This stage proceeds similarly to Stage One, but with one major difference. Whereas in Stage One a team had to pick up the option on a contract of a drafted player, thus paying them what their former club decided not to, Stage Two allows teams to negotiate a new salary from scratch. Because of this change in dynamics, Stage Two has always been a busier day than Stage One. Considering that a record number of players were picked in Stage One on December 12th, we could be looking at another record-breaking afternoon on Wednesday.
Stage One saw five players taken. Portland, Colorado, and Philadelphia, took one player each and D.C. became the first team in Re-Entry Draft history to select two players.
With their first pick, D.C. took former Los Angeles right-back Sean Franklin. Seen as one of the better players available in the draft and with a salary that many teams would be happy to pay, D.C. wasted no time in improving their backline. Their second selection, former Houston centre-back Bobby Boswell, will be seen as another welcome addition. Boswell played for D.C. from 2005 to 2007, and was the MLS Defender of the Year in 2006.
Portland had traded with Chivas to get the second pick in the draft, and created a shock when they picked former Seattle forward Steve Zakuani. The biggest young name in the draft, Zakuani was reunited with former Akron teammate Darlington Nagbe and coach Caleb Porter.
The Re-Entry Draft only marked the beginning. The next week saw a flurry of moves that as of Tuesday evening left only four teams without an off-season addition.
The biggest moves were undoubtedly made by the Seattle Sounders. Joining Zakuani on the way out were midfielder and former captain Mauro Rosales (to Chivas), mercurial forward Eddie Johnson (to D.C.), and goalkeeper Michael Gspurning (option declined). Coming in were former Toronto goalkeeper Stefan Frei, ex-Dallas forward Kenny Cooper, and former Columbus Crew captain and two-time MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall. Seattle’s 2013 season was marked by underachievement. The pressure is already on their new faces to deliver in 2014.
Toronto was another big mover in the first week. Along with Frei, Toronto traded away midfielder Bobby Convey and declined their option on forward Robert Earnshaw. After weeks of speculation, the Reds were able to bring in Brazilian phenom Gilberto on a Designated Player contract. They also traded for Dallas midfielder Jackson and San Jose defender Justin Morrow. Rumours surrounding Jermain Defoe and Dwayne De Rosario have not lost any steam either. It appears that for the former a transfer is probable, while the latter could be selected by Toronto in Stage Two.
The other big move worth noting was Kansas City’s acquisition of goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum from Columbus. The retirement of Jimmy Nielsen following their MLS Cup victory left KC in dire need of a new goalkeeper. They found an excellent one. Gruenebaum was the league leader in saves in 2012 on a Columbus team that did not make it to the MLS Cup Playoffs. With the best backline in the league now in front of him, Gruenebaum’s job will only get easier. Costing only a second-round SuperDraft pick in 2016, Gruenebaum is an early candidate for the steal of the offseason.
So where do things stand going into Stage Two of the Re-Entry Draft?
The MLS landscape has shifted dramatically. The three worst teams in 2013 (D.C., Chivas, and Toronto), all got better on paper. Many of 2013’s playoff sides have lost key players and will be putting a lot of faith in new faces.
There are quality players at every position up for grabs. In addition to the players from my list of ones to watch, here are some more to keep an eye on:
Brian Mullan (DF, age 35)- A five time MLS Cup winner who would add a significant veteran presence on a weak or inexperienced backline.
James Riley (DF, 31)- Would provide similar experience as Mullan. A good full-back in a league without many, he could be snapped up quickly.
Josh Saunders (GK, 32)- Saunders has been stuck backing up excellent goalkeepers in recent years but could be a good option for a team in need of a starter.
The offseason has had a strong start. But Stage Two of the Re-Entry Draft is when the fun really begins.
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