MLS Re-Entry Draft

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The MLS Re-Entry Draft is an annual event in which Major League Soccer teams select players who are out of contract or have had their options declined by their current teams. Although the single-entity league does not have true free agency, the re-entry draft was created to provide an outlet of internal movement for veteran players. [1]

Contents

History

The Re-Entry Draft was created by the collective bargaining agreement reached in March 2010. Under the previous rules, clubs could hold what amounted to a 48-hour first right of refusal on players whose contracts had expired or did not have the options picked up. This was a significant obstacle to a new agreement during negotiations during the 2009-10 MLS offseason. With the players threatening to strike, [2] the league and owners agreed to add the suggested re-entry draft to provide some leverage to players. [3]

The re-entry draft was praised by some for increasing freedom and flexibility of player movement, with agents and players arguing that it provided checks on teams who previously could either force a player to take a lower salary or make them seek options outside of MLS. [4] Others, however, criticized the relative lack of players actually moving [5] and the rushed nature of the process, which took place by conference call. [6]

The first re-entry draft, consisting of two stages, took place over several weeks following the completion of the 2010 MLS season. Two players were chosen in Stage 1 of the draft with an additional eleven players chosen in the second stage, including World Cup veterans Jimmy Conrad, Josh Wolff, and Frankie Hejduk; designated player Juan Pablo Ángel, and Jeff Cunningham, then the second-leading scorer in league history.

Process

Teams are able to select players who meet the following criteria:

Players with expiring contracts or options that are not renewed by their clubs who do not meet the age and service requirements necessary to be included in the Re-Entry Draft are instead available in the Waiver Draft.

The draft order is determined by a reverse combination of the teams' playoff and regular season positions, similar to the MLS SuperDraft, with any expansion clubs picking last.

Each club may either select a player from the eligible player list or pass. Once a club chooses to pass, they may no longer participate in that stage of the Re-Entry Process. Each stage continues until all clubs have passed on the available players.

Stage 1

Clubs may not select their own players in Stage 1.

If a club selects a player in Stage 1, it must exercise the option for, or extend a Bona Fide Offer to, the player. If the player rejects the offer, the drafting club will hold the right of first refusal for that player in MLS. Players with option years left on their contract are automatically added to the drafting club’s roster. Any player selected in Stage 1 will remain on that years drafting club’s budget at the option price or Bona Fide Offer price until April 1 of the following year. Clubs and players may not mutually renegotiate that price to a lower number until April 1 of that year.

For several days after Stage 1, clubs may sign their own players or sign and trade a player to another club (provided the old club, new club, and player agree to the new terms). A blackout period then begins before Stage 2 takes place one week following Stage 1.

Stage 2

In Stage 2, clubs may select from players that are under contract and those not under contract. If a player is not under contract, the drafting club will be required to make a genuine offer to the player within seven days. In the event that an agreement cannot be reached between the drafting club and an out-of-contract player, the drafting club will hold the right of first refusal for that player in MLS.

Clubs may select their own players in the Stage 2 draft only after all other clubs have declined to select those players.

If a player is not selected in either stage of the Re-Entry Process, that player will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to all clubs. [7]

List of Re-Entry Drafts

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The two-stage 2010 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 8, 2010 and December 15, 2010. The Stage 1 Draft of the Re-Entry Process took place on Wednesday, December 8, at 2 p.m. ET via teleconference. The Stage 2 Draft took place on Wednesday, December 15, at 2 p.m. ET. All 18 clubs had a representative participate.

The two-stage 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 5, 2011 and December 12, 2011. All 19 Major League Soccer clubs participated.

The two-stage 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 7, 2012 and December 14, 2012. All 19 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate.

The two-stage 2013 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 12, 2013 and December 18, 2013. All 19 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate.

The two-stage 2014 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 12, 2014 and December 18, 2014. All 20 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate.

The two-stage 2015 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 11, 2015, and December 17, 2015,. All 20 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate. The priority order for the draft was reverse order of finish in 2015, taking into account play-off performance.

The two-stage 2016 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 16, 2016 and December 22, 2016. All 22 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate. The priority order for the Re-Entry Draft was reverse order of finish in 2016, taking into account playoff performance. The two 2017 expansion teams, Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC, had selections 21 and 22, respectively.

The 2017 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 15, 2017 and December 21, 2017. All 23 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate. The priority order for the MLS Re-Entry Draft was reverse order of finish in 2017, taking into account playoff performance. The 2018 expansion team, Los Angeles FC, had selection 23.

The 2018 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 14, 2018 and December 20, 2018. All 24 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate. The priority order for the MLS Re-Entry Draft was reverse order of finish in 2018, taking into account playoff performance. The 2019 expansion team, FC Cincinnati, had selection #24.

The 2019 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on November 26, 2019 and December 3, 2019. All 26 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate. The priority order for the MLS Re-Entry Draft was reverse order of finish in 2019, taking into account playoff performance. The 2020 expansion teams, Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF, received selections #25 and #26, respectively.

The 2020 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 17, 2020 and December 22, 2020. All 27 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate. The priority order for the MLS Re-Entry Draft was reverse order of playoff finish in 2020, taking into account their regular season finish. The 2021 expansion team, Austin FC, received the last overall selection.

The 2021 MLS Re-Entry Draft took place on December 17, 2021 and December 23, 2021. All 28 Major League Soccer clubs were eligible to participate. The priority order for the MLS Re-Entry Draft was reverse order of playoff finish in 2021, taking into account their regular season finish. The 2022 expansion team, Charlotte FC, received the last overall selection. Teams had the option of passing on their selection.

Free agency in Major League Baseball (MLB) concerns players whose contracts with a team have expired and who are therefore eligible to sign with another team. Free agents may be eligible for pendulum arbitration, also called "salary arbitration" or just "arbitration" in baseball circles.

The 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft was conducted in two stages, as it has been in previous years. Stage 1 took place on November 17, 2022, and Stage 2 took place on November 22, 2022. All 28 existing Major League Soccer club and its newest expansion club St. Louis City SC took place in the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft. The draft order was set in reverse order of the 2022 Major League Soccer season standing after completion of the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs. Because St. Louis City SC did not participate in the 2022 MLS season, they would have the last position in the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft. Teams have the option to decline a selection throughout the draft.

The 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft is conducted in two stages, as it has been in previous years. Stage 1 takes place on December 14, 2023, and Stage 2 takes place on December 21, 2023. All 29 existing Major League Soccer club will take part of the 2023 MLS Re-Entry Draft. The draft order was set in reverse order of the 2023 Major League Soccer season standing after completion of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.

References

  1. ↑ Archived December 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ Blum, Ronald (2010-03-12). "MLS Strike? Players Vote Yes If No Deal By March 25". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  3. ↑ "Monday MLS Breakdown: New MLS CBA Satisfies Significant Objectives For League and Players Union". Goal. 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  4. ↑ Mahoney, Ridge (2010-12-02). "Re-Entry Draft marks new era for MLS vets 12/02/2010". SoccerAmerica. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  5. ↑ Archived May 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "Galaxy try to land Juan Pablo Angel, emerge as re-entry winners". SI.com. Sports Illustrated; CNN. 2010-12-20. Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  7. ↑ "2012 Re-Entry Process Rules and Timeline". Press Box. MLS. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
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