Re Entry & Waiver Draft December 8 & 15

[Sullivan]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/2010-re-entry-process

2010 RE-ENTRY PROCESS - TIMELINE AND EVENT SCHEDULE

This document summarizes the process that will transpire after MLS Cup with regard to the Expansion and Re-Entry Process.
I. Expansion Draft Process – November 24
II. Re-Entry Process

a. Stage 1 Draft – December 8
b. Stage 2 Draft – December 15

I. Expansion Draft Process and Waiver Draft
The Expansion Draft for Portland and Vancouver will take place on Wednesday, November 24, 2010. The Expansion Draft Rules are attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Waiver Draft (the “Waiver Draft”) will also be held on November 24, 2010, which is the traditional waiver process for players who do not qualify for the Re-Entry Process.

II. Re-Entry Process

Player Eligibility
The Re-Entry Process will consist of the following players: (1) Players at least 23 years old with a minimum of 3 years of MLS experience whose options were not exercised (“Option Decline Players”), and (2) out of contract players who have not received a Bona Fide Offer1 and who are (a) at least 25 years old with a minimum of 4 years of MLS experience and/or (b) at least 30 years old with a minimum of 8 years of MLS experience (“Out of Contract Players”).

Please note, players may choose to opt out of the Re-Entry Process (Stage 1 and/or Stage 2) and have their rights remain with their current Club by notifying the League Office at any time prior to the applicable time ((a) December 3 at 12:00 pm and/or (b) December 13 at 12:00 pm).

1 Bona Fide Offer must meet the following minimum conditions: (1) “25/4 players” – first year salary at least equal to 2010 annual base salary and “30/8 players” – first year salary at least equal to 5% greater than their 2010 annual base salary; (2) option year salaries must increase by at least 5% each year; (3) term of 1+1+1; (4) the performance bonuses must be at least the same as the player’s performance bonuses in his previous year under contract; (5) for purposes of Stage 1, offers extended as of November 30 must remain open from November 30 until at least December 3 at 12:00 pm; and (6) for purposes of Stage 2, offers extended on December 8 must remain open from December 8 until at least December 13 at 12:00 pm. If a player declines to accept a Bona Fide Offer or the Club withdraws such Bona Fide Offer, the Club that extended the Bona Fide Offer will have a right of first refusal on such player and any subsequent offer may be less than the Bona Fide Offer.

Two Stages
The Re-Entry Process will consist of two separate drafts, a Stage 1 draft and a Stage 2 draft. In Stage 1, Clubs may select Option Decline Players at their option price and Out of Contract players at their Bona Fide Offer price. In Stage 2, Clubs may select players that were unselected in Stage 1 and who may be under contract or not under contract at that time. If a player is not under contract and the Club selects such player, the Club will be required to make a genuine offer to the player within seven (7) days (subject to League Office approval). If a player is not selected in either Stage 1 or Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Process, such player will be available on a first come first serve basis to all Clubs.

Event Timeline (all times Eastern Standard Time)
Monday, November 22
■9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Trade window is open
■2:00 pm: Clubs submit Expansion Draft lists to League Office with their protected players.
■5:00 pm: League Office issues official Expansion Draft list with players available for selection by Portland and Vancouver.

Wednesday, November 24 – Expansion Draft and Waiver Draft
■2:00 pm: Expansion Draft.
■2:30 pm: League Office issues official Waiver Draft list.
■3:30 pm: Waiver Draft for players not eligible for Re-Entry Process.

Tuesday, November 30
■2:00 pm: All Clubs, including Expansion Clubs, notify League Office of (1) players whose options they are exercising and/or (2) players who are receiving Bona Fide Offers.
■5:00 pm: League Office sends the following:
1. Option exercise letters (UPS next day air) to the applicable players2, with copies sent by email to the Players Union;
2. Bona Fide Offer letters, with Schedules attached (UPS next day air) to the applicable players to sign, with copies sent by email to the Players Union, which offers shall remain open at least until 12:00 pm on Friday,

December 3; and
3. Email to the Clubs and Players Union the list of players (i) whose options will NOT be exercised and (ii) who will NOT be receiving Bona Fide Offers.

Note: Players identified in 1 or 2 above will not be included in the Re-Entry Process. Players identified in 3 above will be included in the Re-Entry Process, unless any such players opt out.

2 As part of the Re-Entry Draft process, the Players Union will extend the option exercise date for Option Decline Players to December 10.
From November 30 to December 3
■Between November 30 and December 3, Clubs may still:
1. Sign their own draft-eligible players to new contracts, and
2. Sign and trade such players to other Clubs, provided that all parties agree to such trade (i.e., current Club, future Club, and player).

Friday, December 3
■12:00 pm: All Bona Fide Offers that were open as of November 30 may be withdrawn by Clubs.
■2:00 pm: Beginning of blackout period whereby Clubs may no longer sign and/or trade their own draft-eligible players until December 9.
■5:00 pm: League Office issues list of Re-Entry Process Stage 1 player pool to Clubs and the Players Union.
Wednesday, December 8 – Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Process
■2:00 pm: League Office conducts Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Process (via conference call).
Draft Order and Length: Stage 1 draft order will be conducted in the same order as the traditional Waiver Draft with Vancouver selecting 17th and Portland selecting 18th. The Stage 1 draft will continue until no Clubs wish to make any selections. Clubs may NOT select their own draft-eligible players in Stage 1.
■5:00 pm: For the players selected in Stage 1, the League Office sends the following:

1. Option exercise letters (UPS next day air) to the applicable players, with copies sent by email to the Players Union.

2. Bona Fide Offer letters, with Schedules attached (UPS next day air) to the applicable players to sign, with copies sent by email to the Players Union, which offers shall remain open at least until 12:00 pm on Monday,

December 13.
■Note: Any player selected in Stage 1 will remain on drafting Club’s 2011 budget (at the option price or Bona Fide Offer price) until April 1, 2011. Clubs and players may not mutually renegotiate such price to a lower number until such date.

From December 9 to December 13
■League Office attempts to sign players who were not selected in Stage 1 in preparation for Stage 2. On December 9, blackout period ends and former Clubs may again sign and/or sign and trade their own draft- eligible players to new contracts (i.e., a Club may sign its player not selected in Stage 1), provided that all parties agree to any such trade (i.e., current Club, future Club and player).

Monday, December 13
■12:00 pm: All Bona Fide Offers from December 8 may be withdrawn by Clubs.
■2:00 pm: League Office issues list of Re-Entry Process Stage 2 player pool (such list will consist of players under contract and players not under contract). Beginning of blackout period whereby Clubs may no longer sign and/or trade their own draft-eligible players.
Wednesday, December 15 – Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Process
■2:00 pm: League Office conducts Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Process.
Draft Order and Length: Stage 2 draft order will be conducted in the same order as Stage 1. Stage 2 will continue until no Club wishes to make any selections. Clubs may NOT select their own draft- eligible players in Stage 2 until all other Clubs have declined on selecting such players (i.e., a Club shall not be permitted to select any player from its 2010 roster until all other Clubs have passed on selecting such player).

[jloome]

No one on that list I'd pursue. Khari Stephenson would be a good depth player but would come in expecting to start and likely too expensive. Plus, he's moved a lot lately, although I think he's from TO for some reason?

[Milky]

I know this isn't exactly insightful, but JPA would be just the tonic that TFC need up front and I think that we should sign him in the Re-Entry Draft tomorrow. I know he's getting on a bit in age, but it can't hurt to have him on the books for one season, after which we can re-negotiate his contract or let him go. It seems very low-risk to me. As well, we will pick 6th in the Draft and I can only see Philadelphia possibly taking Angel before us, so there is a realistic chance that we could get him.

[razor787]

He isnt worth the DP spot anymore. If we can snag him at a wage under DP, then sure.

[Milky]

Really Razor? I admit that he's overpriced, but I still think that he's worth DP money. Last season he scored 13 goals, which tied him for 6th best in the league (with Conor Casey). In comparison, DeRo had a break-out season with Toronto FC this year and only scored a further 2 goals. Furthermore, Angel scored 12 goals last season and 14 the year before that, so he has been fairly consistent and doesn't show any signs of slowing down. I know that Toronto is the place where strikers go to die but if there were ever a no-brainer acquisition for TFC, then this would be it. We all know that Angel has the quality to be a top scorer in this league. He's proven that.

[Milky]

I should also mention that his MLS-low 12 goals came in the season when New York were absolute shit.

[razor787]

We can't look for a quick fix though. He is old, and the last half of last season his goals dropped off (saw someone else say that, can't verify for sure). He probally has 1 year left, 2 tops. We need to build a team to last. I dont want to get anyone that will only be around for a season, then retire. We need to get DP's that will be able to stick around.

What is the point in getting someone to score us goals, when he will be gone in a year? Wouldn't it make more sense to put money out for someone that will stay a while? My guess is he will either play 1 year then retire, or play 1 year then play a year in Columbia to finish his career. We need more than he can provide.

[Milky]

In the real soccer world I would agree with you, but this is the MLS. The MLS is designed so that any club can be competitive in any given year. New York is, in itself, the prime example of that. Utter shite in 2009, arguably the best in the East in 2010. In the MLS you build for the present and a few DPs can make a world of difference.

Now, this is not to say that I don't believe in building for the future. I do. Our Academy will (hopefully) serve that function. But even with Academy players coming up through the system the onus is on Toronto FC to field a competitive side every new season. We've seen how ruthless the MLS can be. Where else in the world can you just trade a footballer 2000-3000km to another city without the player even having a say in the matter? I say we sign Angel for next season and if it works out then maybe he signs a new contract and finishes his career here, and if not then we bring in someone else. At the end of the day it's all about finding that perfect balance between experience/youth and quality/attitude.

[Milky]

And before anyone jumps on me, I'm not saying that we should sign DPs just for the sake of it, but clearly JPA is a special player. We could use him or someone like him (if they're available).

[Yohan]

In the real soccer world I would agree with you, but this is the MLS. The MLS is designed so that any club can be competitive in any given year. New York is, in itself, the prime example of that. Utter shite in 2009, arguably the best in the East in 2010. In the MLS you build for the present and a few DPs can make a world of difference.

eh. arguably, the DPs have changed the parity issue. well, judiciously used that is. very few teams have made good use of DP spots yet.
saying NY was the best in the East really isn't saying much, considering how weak the East was compared to the West. (and I'd argue that Columbus has been consistently the team to beat in the East last few years)

Now, this is not to say that I don't believe in building for the future. I do. Our Academy will (hopefully) serve that function. But even with Academy players coming up through the system the onus is on Toronto FC to field a competitive side every new season. We've seen how ruthless the MLS can be. Where else in the world can you just trade a footballer 2000-3000km to another city without the player even having a say in the matter? I say we sign Angel for next season and if it works out then maybe he signs a new contract and finishes his career here, and if not then we bring in someone else. At the end of the day it's all about finding that perfect balance between experience/youth and quality/attitude.

I'm with you on JPA. We don't have that one two striker combo that should be basis of any football team. JPA and DeRo gives us that for at least one year. I dunno. Maybe JPA is too old and injuries slowed him down so much. But at least he is more of a known quality in MLS so we know pretty much what we can expect from him. (and at least he can put away PKs lol)

Or, sign another DP and hopefully he pans out, which IMO is a bigger risk than signing JPA at this point

[rocker]

so let me get this straight -- if you grab somebody in the first stage of the draft, you must make them an offer of the last year base + 5%?

If that's correct, then I can't see a number of these players getting chosen in the first round.

that would mean, for example, that Jimmy Conrad would have to be paid almost 260,000. I'd pass on that...

[jloome]

And before anyone jumps on me, I'm not saying that we should sign DPs just for the sake of it, but clearly JPA is a special player. We could use him or someone like him (if they're available).

No, he used to be a special player. He looked like a lump of lead last season. He had 13 goals because he played with Joel Lindpere, who gave him spectacular service. In the second half of the season, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn and he can hardly get off the ground anymore.

You don't lose technique, so I'm sure he' still a great finisher. But his time at this level is very close to past.

[Suds]

so let me get this straight -- if you grab somebody in the first stage of the draft, you must make them an offer of the last year base + 5%?

If that's correct, then I can't see a number of these players getting chosen in the first round.

that would mean, for example, that Jimmy Conrad would have to be paid almost 260,000. I'd pass on that...

From what I've read it seems most GM's are in a wait and see mode for the first round; unless there is someone they really want.

And the second round only give you the right to negotiate with the player. Which means you could draft a guy in the second roun and not get him.

[Pookie]

He isnt worth the DP spot anymore. If we can snag him at a wage under DP, then sure.

The argument depends on what we do with our 3 available DP slots, doesn't it?

If we waste them and keep JDG and give DeRo one, then I'd agree. Don't use up the 3rd on JPA.

But if we move DeRo west and have some option for JDG to move on as well, I'd take JPA as one of my 2-3 new DPs.

[Pookie]

so let me get this straight -- if you grab somebody in the first stage of the draft, you must make them an offer of the last year base + 5%?

If that's correct, then I can't see a number of these players getting chosen in the first round.

that would mean, for example, that Jimmy Conrad would have to be paid almost 260,000. I'd pass on that...

^ not quite.

If you read the following clause:

"Note: Any player selected in Stage 1 will remain on drafting Club’s 2011 budget (at the option price or Bona Fide Offer price) until April 1, 2011. Clubs and players may not mutually renegotiate such price to a lower number until such date."

... it would imply that you could renegotiate with that player after April 1.

Practically speaking though, if that player's salary is guaranteed, I'm not sure that the renegotiation process would be a success. You'd also have their cap space tied up until the conclusion of such negotiation.

So, effectively speaking, if you take a Stage 1 player, you are most likely taking them at their current terms for the year.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

DC United take Joseph Ngwenya with the 1st pick
Columbus Crew pick Aaron Hohlbein formerly of the Kansas City Sporting Sporting Club 2nd pick

[dantdot]

D.C. United selects Joseph Ngwenya
Columbus selects takes Aaron Hohlbein

And...that's it for today.

[Whoop]

Yeah, I had a feeling TFC wasn't biting on any of the players available.

[TFCRegina]

Yeah, I had a feeling TFC wasn't biting on any of the players available.

Don't blame them. It was garbage picking and nothing useful was available at a reasonable price.

[Whoop]

But what about JPA or GBS!?!?

[mastermixer]

But what about JPA or GBS!?!?

Next week will be more busy... teams will be able to re-negotiate contracts with these same players. Players taken today are taken with existing contracts.

[TFCRegina]

But what about JPA or GBS!?!?

We have a JPA style player, and JPA would have required too much money in the first stage of the draft. GBS is 38. He's nearly done. I don't blame them for not taking him.

We could probably go to Latin America, say Bolivia or Peru, and find an attacking midfielder in his early to mid 20s who'd be willing to come here for a hundred grand less than GBA or JPA.

[Whoop]

Who's our scout down there?

[mastermixer]

^ Dasovich is scouring the jungles of Brazil and Columbia as we speak...

[Shway]

for players? or females?

you always here coaches going to south america to scout, but dont comeback with atleast one prospect

[mastermixer]

Sorry... i should add that I have no idea who and if anyone is scouting for us right now... I was being completely sarcastic. Don't want to give any false hope.

[Pookie]

Grabbing a DP today wasn't wise considering we only have 3 slots and realistically, really only use 2 of them. That 3rd slot hasn't been something the club has been willing to take advantage of.

If we grabbed JPA today, we'd likely be saying bye to DeRo. I'm 100% cool with that but not for minimal return.

He wants more money. He is near the max salary so the only way he gets it is to get the DP tag. If we have 2 players with that DP tag before he is traded, teams know that he is not likely to stay. We would have little option but to accept whatever is offered from the Club he wants to go to.

Hopefully, DeRo can be moved soon in order to secure the max value we can get and we can set our sights on a DP.

Clearly, if this team brings back JDG and DeRo as their core, while DeRo's stats might be ok, this team is going nowhere. On the plus side, we'll have some free time in the fall... again

[TFC07]

Good! I hope TFC doesn't select anyone from this draft.

[Milky]

Interesting that they didn't bite on Angel. I would have signed him just so that he would have had to have played one season in Toronto. Then, you'd have to re-negotiate his contract anyway but hopefully by that point he'd be settled in the city. And bringing him to Toronto wouldn't have handicapped us in any way. Only $335,000 or so of his salary would have counted against the cap (who cares what else MLSE pay him, they're rich, and if you don't think so give your head a shake!) and despite Dwayne DeRosario earning more than that against the cap, we have not made him a DP and we don't have to. If a player only makes a little more than what would count against the cap if he were a DP, then you can gamble with not making him a DP if you want to. But even if we did make him a DP (thus using all three of our DP spots) then who cares? They're there to be used anyway.

However, by passing on Angel perhaps TFC are either gambling that they get offer him a better deal than the rest of the league can, or perhaps they have someone of a similar ilk lined up. I guess time will tell...

[Pookie]

Interesting that they didn't bite on Angel. I would have signed him just so that he would have had to have played one season in Toronto. Then, you'd have to re-negotiate his contract anyway but hopefully by that point he'd be settled in the city. And bringing him to Toronto wouldn't have handicapped us in any way. Only $335,000 or so of his salary would have counted against the cap (who cares what else MLSE pay him, they're rich, and if you don't think so give your head a shake!) and despite Dwayne DeRosario earning more than that against the cap, we have not made him a DP and we don't have to. If a player only makes a little more than what would count against the cap if he were a DP, then you can gamble with not making him a DP if you want to. But even if we did make him a DP (thus using all three of our DP spots) then who cares? They're there to be used anyway.

However, by passing on Angel perhaps TFC are either gambling that they get offer him a better deal than the rest of the league can, or perhaps they have someone of a similar ilk lined up. I guess time will tell...

Not sure but if they did bite on JPA today they would have 2 DPs.

JDG and JPA

Teams know that DeRo wants more money and the only way he gets it is if we offer him that 3rd DP slot. That would cost us $250k out of the gate to buy the slot plus his salary increase.

Even if we did that, we have JDG - DeRo and JPA as our DPs and the only improvement we have over the playoff failures of past year(s) is an older JPA. Not inspiring from where I sit.

Most likely, the teams would know that we are most likely to move DeRo as we haven't taken advantage of that 3rd DP. Plus his public stance isn't exactly "team friendly". They'd then have the upper hand in any trade discussion.

I'd welcome a DP core that has JPA and new blood in it but I'm not sure that getting him today is the best move for the club over the long term. Move DeRo for maximum value right now and then next week it is a different story.