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Benezet, Endoh, Morrow highlight list of eligible TFC players for 2019 Expansion Draft

The 2019 MLS Expansion Draft for Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF will begin at 5:30 p.m. EST

By Michael Singh
Toronto FC defender Justin Morrow at BMO Field during the 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs.
(Tagwa Moyo/Waking the Red)

TORONTO, Ont.—When you have depth, this is what happens.

Major League Soccer announced today the full list of eligible players who can be selected in the 2019 Expansion Draft set to take place on Nov. 19, and that list includes quite a few Toronto FC players who had a memorable post-season.

Toronto FC 2019 Expansion Draft Eligible Players
  1. Jon Bakero
  2. Nicolas Benezet
  3. Laurent Ciman
  4. Tsubasa Endoh
  5. Drew Moor
  6. Ashtone Morgan
  7. Justin Morrow
  8. Patrick Mullins
  9. Caleb Patterson-Sewell
  10. Ryan Telfer
  11. Eriq Zavaleta

Of note, TAM-signing Nicolas Benezet is currently on loan from En Avant de Guingamp (Guingamp) of the French Ligue 2 with an option to buy, while defender Justin Morrow, whose contract recently expired, also has a club-option to extend his deal. Morrow recently voiced his desire to remain in Toronto during his end-of-season press conference.

The Reds, who can only lose one of their exposed players to either Nashville SC or Inter Miami CF, had the opportunity to protect up to 12 players from their roster prior to today’s announcement, according to the league.

“All 19 remaining clubs had the opportunity to protect up to 12 players each from their roster. MLS Homegrown Players ages 25 and under (those born during or after 1994), as well as Generation adidas players that did not graduate from the program following the 2019 season are automatically protected, therefore clubs did not need to use one of their 12 selections to protect them.”

Below is the full list of players Toronto FC elected to protect. Those not listed here or on TFC’s exposed list were exempt from the draft.

  1. Alejandro Pozuelo
  2. Michael Bradley
  3. Jozy Altidore
  4. Omar Gonzalez
  5. Chris Mavinga
  6. Quentin Westberg
  7. Jonathan Osorio
  8. Alex Bono
  9. Auro Jr.
  10. Nick DeLeon
  11. Erickson Gallardo
  12. Richie Laryea

It’s worth noting that on Wednesday, Toronto FC traded Canadian Jay Chapman to Inter Miami CF in exchange for $100,000 in General Allocation Money. Whether or not that includes a friendly “leave me alone in the expansion draft” clause remains to be seen.

You can find the full player list here and you can find the full list of rules here.

Relative Notes, courtesy Toronto FC.

  • For a club that has a player claimed from their unprotected roster, that team will receive $50,000 in General Allocation Money for the selection.
  • If a club protects a player, it is not obligated to exercise the player’s option. It may renegotiate a new contract with the player as in previous years, subject to the CBA.
  • If the player’s contract expires at the end of 2019, he will still be considered part of the club’s roster.
  • If either Inter Miami CF or Nashville SC selects a Supplemental/Reserve Roster Player, it must offer him a Senior Roster position and he must remain on the Senior Roster as of 2020 Roster Compliance Date.

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