The protected lists for tomorrow’s expansion draft have been released, and while United’s list includes some no brainers that will be key contributors next season, it also includes some players that could be trade bait to the right club.
- Protected: Charlie Davies, Dwyane DeRosario, Dejan Jakovic, Perry Kitchen, Chris Korb, Brandon McDonald, Chris Pontius, Clyde Simms, Joe Willis, Josh Wolff, Daniel Woolard
- Homegrown (protected): Bill Hamid, Andy Najar, Conor Shanosky, Ethan White
- Available: Brandon Barklage, Blake Brettschneider, Branko Boskovic, Marc Burch, Steve Cronin, Austin da Luz, Stephen King, Devon McTavish, Kurt Morsink, Joseph Ngwenya, Santino Quaranta, Jed Zayner
The most interesting protected players for DC United have to be Charlie Davies and Clyde Simms, both players who lost their starting spots by the end of the season and are protected likely because of their perceived trade value. The guys on the United Mania podcast posited that United needs four new starting level players: two fullbacks, a creative midfielder, and a target forward. Could United swing a deal with Montreal for one of the unprotected fullbacks for Simms or Davies?
I see a Charlie Davies trade being more likely later on in the offseason, when United has had more time to talk to Charlie and Sochaux about what they want to do. Any time before that and they’re not going to get much value out of his rights. But if Davies does want to stay in MLS, or if Sochaux want him to stay here another season, I could see him being worth a starter to the right team.
Finally, I saw someone out there saying that Santino Quaranta is likely to be taken. I don’t see that happening; at this point, Quaranta is who we thought he is. He is a spot starter and good sub to have off the bench, but not someone you really want starting for your team. The two players I think are most likely to be taken are Blake Brettschneider and Austin da Luz. Out of the two, I would prefer to keep Brettschneider, as he gives United something that they do not currently have, while da Luz gives them something similar as to what Quaranta provides. In the end, I do not see any United player being picked.
Before Extra Time 