Will Houston Dynamo FC see another player depart for the 2023 Major League Soccer season?
MLS has announced the eligible list of players across the league that St. Louis CIty SC can choose with its five picks in Friday's 2022 MLS Expansion Draft. Each club was able to submit a list of 12 protected players. Homegrown players under the age of 25 plus Generation Adidas players are also protected.
That leaves 14 unprotected players on the Houston Dynamo roster, giving St. Louis a chance to choose from a mix of veterans and rising talents. Let's take a look at who is and isn't up for grabs:
Off the table
The Houston Dynamo FC players placed on the protected list are the following:
- FW Corey Baird
- MF Adalberto Carrasquilla
- GK Steve Clark
- DF Griffin Dorsey
- FW Sebas Ferreira
- DF Teenage Hadebe
- MF Héctor Herrera
- DF Adam Lundkvist
- FW Nelson Quinones
- DF Daniel Steres
- FW Thor Ulfarsson
- MF Matias Vera
Homegrowns Juan Castilla, Brooklyn Raines, Daniel Rios and Xavier Valdez are not eligible for selection as listed in the Expansion Draft rules. Defender Ethan Bartlow is also protected thanks to his Generation Adidas status.
Eligible for selection
The Dynamo players eligible for selection in the Expansion Draft are:
- FW Beto Avila
- FW Mateo Bajamich
- MF Darwin Cerén
- MF Joe Corona
- DF Ian Hoffmann
- DF Sam Junqua
- FW Nico Lemoine
- GK Michael Nelson
- DF Tim Parker
- FW Darwin Quintero
- MF Memo Rodriguez
- FW Thiago
- DF Zarek Valentin
- DF Zeca
The club publicly stated it issued a bona fide offer to Sam Junqua, which was declined. General Manager Pat Onstad confirmed that the club is not currently in negotiations with Quintero, Rodriguez or Zeca in an interview with Glenn Davis on KFNC 97.5 FM on Wednesday.
Tim Parker stands out as one of the players that could help a new club due to his MLS experience but he comes with a $1 million annual salary. That makes him unlikely to be selected unless St. Louis doesn't mind taking on his contract, and it's obviously the reason Houston left him unprotected.
Darwin Ceren, Joe Corona, and Zarek Valentin are all veterans on the back end of their careers but much more affordable options that could bring a veteran presence on and off the field. Darwin Quintero is a bit more of a gamble but, in the right situation, can provide a spark in offensive production.
Goalkeeper Michael Nelson has had a few MLS matches and could be a good backup to have. Ideally, he would leave Houston for a starting role elsewhere but that doesn't seem to be the case with St. Louis, which already has Swiss international Roman Bürki on its roster.
Sam Junqua and Beto Avila are the two names I would look at. Both have an up arrow next to their name especially if a team is willing to invest more minutes into them.
Looking at St. Louis' need for wingbacks, perhaps Junqua and Valentin are the players to watch. The need for guys on the defensive side of the ball could also see Ceren being considered.
Possibility of a trade
Expansion drafts have become another avenue for trades that benefit the expansion club. The Dynamo could also improve its roster by striking a trade with St. Louis City SC.
That was the case in 2019 when Nashville SC took Zarek Valentin from the Portland Timbers via the Expansion Draft and then traded him to Houston Dynamo for Joe Willis and Targeted Allocation Money.
There are plenty of good options throughout the 2022 MLS Expansion Draft Eligible Player List and Houston could also benefit from the right moves.