With the 2017 regular season all wrapped up, the off-season schedule is set to get underway next month. With Los Angeles FC coming into the league next season, there will once again be an expansion draft, followed by all the usual major roster related drafts that occur in December. Let’s take a look at what you need to know heading into next month.
Expansion Draft- December 12, 2017
Just like last year with Atlanta and Minnesota, MLS will hold an expansion draft for the incoming LAFC. Current teams will have to submit a list of 11 protected players by December 10 and the draft will take place two days later. LA will have five picks from any unprotected player from any other team to help start build their roster. Only one player may be selected from any given team.
Waiver Draft- December 13, 2017
Just one day after the expansion draft, players from clubs that have been waived and do not meet the minimum years of service required to be eligible for either the Re-Entry Draft or Free Agency will have a chance to get picked up off waivers by another team.The draft order will be in reverse of the season standings after the end of the 2017 season, meaning Orlando City will most likely be in the top 10.
Re-Entry Draft-- December 15, 2017 (Stage One) and December 21, 2017 (Stage Two)
The next draft after waivers are cleared is the Re-Entry draft, which is for players who are out-of-contract with their previous clubs or have had their options declined. Just like the Waiver Draft, the order will be determined by the reverse of the season standings, which means Orlando will have a higher pick.
For this draft, players that are not eligible for Free Agency who will be at least 23 years old with at least three years of MLS experience and had their option declined will be eligible, while for
out of contract players will be eligible if they are at least 25 years old with four years of MLS experience or are at least 30 years old with a minimum of eight years of MLS experience.
This draft will occur in two separate stages, with teams having chances at players over the span of just under a week.
MLS SuperDraft- January 19, 2017
This years collegiate draft will take place on the eastern seaboard, after happening in Los Angeles last year. Philadelphia will be the host city as the draft will take place on Friday the 19th at 11 a.m. The first two rounds will happen live at the draft, while the final two will happen later on. As of right now, Orlando City has the 6th pick in the first round, the 29th pick in the second round and the 52nd pick in the third round. Cyle Larin, Earl Edwards Jr. and Richie Laryea all came from the SuperDraft in 2015 and 2016 respectively, and this year’s class of college athletes has a few potential players in the mix.
