UPDATE:
The LA Galaxy passed on selecting anyone in the Phase 1 of the Re-Entry Draft. Only three players were selected. These players salaries are now absorbed by the team that picked them.
- Montreal Impact Selected – GK Erik Kronberg (Sporting KC)
- San Jose Earthquakes Selected – GK Andy Gruenebaum (Sporting KC)
- Toronto FC Selected – F Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)
Players that were not picked now have until December 18th to renegotiate with their teams. On December 18th Phase 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft will take place.
Major League Soccer has no free agency. Players’ contracts are owned by the league and the league doesn’t want teams bidding up the cost of contracts because, technically, it all comes out of the same pocket. So if teams would start fighting over someone, and therefore raise the value of that contract, it would hurt the league. The league pays everyone! Fun system, right?
Part of the mechanism that gives players some type of movement is the Re-Entry Draft. This draft is broken into two phases.
Players with expiring contracts or players that have had their option declined by the club (which teams can do at any time) have several requirements they must meet. If they don’t meet those requirements, then they would enter the Waiver Draft (Which took place already).
The LA Galaxy’s Kyle Venter was the only player available in the draft for the LA Galaxy. To our knowledge no one selected Kyle and the LA Galaxy did not select anyone. It’s up to each team, and not the league, to acknowledge whether or not they selected anyone.
PHASE 1
- Players who are at least 23 years old have a minimum of three years of MLS experience whose options were not exercised by their clubs (available at option salary for the next season)
- Players who are at least 25 years old with a minimum of four years of MLS experience who are out of a contract and whose club does not offer them a contract at their previous salary (available at previous season’s salary).
- Players who are at least 30 years old with a minimum of eight years of MLS experience who are out of contract and whose club does not wish to re-sign them (available for at least 105% of their previous season’s salary).
Players can be picked up by having a team pick up their option, or their option plus 5% depending on their age and experience.
PHASE 2
- Players have seven days to reach a deal with the team that selected them. That team must make a bona fide offer. Previous salary does not play any role in the negotiation (what qualifies as a bona fide offer is up to the league).
- If a player and team cannot come to an agreement, and the team has submitted a bona fide offer, then the team will hold the players rights. Otherwise known as the right of first refusal.
EXPLANATION
Under Phase 1 rules a team can pick up a player, but they have to pay the full price and, in same cases, the full price plus five percent to add that player to the roster. Under Phase 2 rules you’re able to negotiate a deal between the player and the team. That’s the real difference.
The players’ current team can always renegotiate before and after Phase 1. It’s become common practice to see a player go unselected through Phase 1 and get pulled back by the club before Phase 2.
Most of the time there is very little movement during the first phase of the draft. Phase 2 usually sees more player movement as it provides the teams more leverage to negotiate a deal.
LA GALAXY PLAYERS AVAILABLE IN PHASE 1
For a complete list of RE-Entry Draft Players eligible for selection in Phase 1 please CLICK HERE