A few years ago, I slagged Jim Curtin for protecting Fabinho in the expansion draft and leaving Pedro Ribeiro exposed.
I was wrong, he was right, and Fabinho improved drastically while Ribeiro didn't get much playing time in Orlando.
This year's list looks pretty straightforward, with only one or two decisions that might raise an argument.
Here's how each player will be categorized for tomorrow's draft:
Protected: Keegan Rosenberry, Andre Blake, Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Chris Pontius, Roland Alberg, Ilsinho, C.J. Sapong, Alejandro Bedoya, Warren Creavalle, Eric Ayuk
Exposed: Ray Gaddis, Maurice Edu, Ken Tribbett, John McCarthy, Brian Carroll, Charlie Davies, Leo Fernandes
Exempt: Josh Yaro, Fabian Herbers, Auston Trusty, Derrick Jones
You might be wondering why Eric Ayuk is on the protected list. It's actually the result of a technicality that tripped me up.
Draft rules require teams to protect a certain amount of international players, based on a scale determined by the total number of foreigners on your team. The Union found themselves at a threshold that required the protection of three international players, and those players are Ayuk, Ilsinho, and Roland Alberg.
Josh Yaro and Fabian Herbers aren't considered in that equation since they are exempt from the draft process as members of Generation Adidas.
Andre Blake and Fabinho have green cards, which removes them from the international list.
Therefore, Philly didn't really have much an option in this department.
As far as some of the other players, a few notes:
Maurice Edu – Edu is exposed because of his recent injuries and his $725,000 designated player contract. I highly doubt that Atlanta or Minnesota would take that gamble. There's no current time frame on Mo's return.
Ray Gaddis – Ray is your backup at both right fullback and left fullback. He didn't play a lot this year, just 514 total minutes, and he earns $150k in that depth role. If Atlanta or Minnesota go for a Union player, Gaddis might be the best choice.
Ken Tribbett – He's the third-choice center back right now, so you leave him exposed.
John McCarthy – All backup goalkeepers find their way to the exposed list. I can't remember if any team has ever protected two goalkeepers in the expansion process.
Brian Carroll – There's no point for either expansion team to draft a 35 year old veteran holding midfielder.
Charlie Davies – He's the odd man out. I originally thought he'd be protected before I figured out the international thing. Davies hardly played this year after the Union gave up a decent chunk to acquire him in the summer. He's also out of a contract, which would affect negotiations from a drafting team. Maybe makes it through the draft and Philly resigns him on a lesser deal. I really don't know what's up with Davies right now.
Leo Fernandes – Played mostly for Bethlehem Steel this year after a disappointing spring with the senior team.
As far as the protected players, I don't see much that jumps out. Maybe you make an argument for somebody over Warren Creavalle.
Most of these decisions look like they were fairly straightforward.
As far as players that other teams left exposed, Colorado's Jared Watts and Mekeil Williams jump out as good defensive pieces. Harry Shipp is also out there, along with Steven Beitashour and Zach Loyd. Columbus has some interesting names on the list, like Waylon Francis and Mo Saied.
My gut instinct is that Philly doesn't lose anybody in the draft. There are more valuable building blocks that were left exposed by other clubs.