Goalkeepers (3): Joe Bendik, Chris Konopka, Quillan Roberts
Defenders (7): Steven Caldwell, Mark Bloom, Justin Morrow, Nick Hagglund, Warren Creavalle, Ashtone Morgan, Chris Mannella
Midfielders (8): Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio, Dominic Oduro, Jackson, Kyle Bekker, Collen Warner, Daniel Lovitz, Manny Aparicio
Forwards (4): Jermain Defoe, Gilberto, Luke Moore, Jordan Hamilton
That leaves 18 players that TFC needs to select 11 to protect from.Only two internationals, which include Canadians can be exposed.
Let's start with the obvious: Joe Bendik, Justin Morrow, Nick Hagglund, Michael Bradley, Jonathon Osorio and Gilberto.
Unless the team knows Gilberto is not coming back those six are the untouchables. So, that leaves five protected slots from 12. So, let's go the opposite: Who are the obvious to expose?
Chris Konopka and Jermain Defoe. Back-up keepers are interchangeable and I don't think the teams will waste a spot on Defoe, despite that it might gain then a transfer fee...We're at five from 10, with one of four possible internationals exposed.
Here's were we start to play poker. Does an expansion team want a guy Caldwell's age?
Young, good Americans are probably assets you want to protect. So, let's add Bloom. -- four from nine.
Oduro, Creavalle, Jackson, Warner, Lovitz, Moore, Caldwell, Bekker and Morgan. But, it's really two lists. They can only expose three of the internationals. Unless you want the allocation you get for losing the player Morgan and Bekker are likely two of those. They're highly unlikely to be selected. So, Jackson, Moore and Caldwell are protected.
Let's add Lovitz on as a young American.
Thus, the exposed list is: Creavalle, Warner, Konopka, Defoe, Morgan, Oduro and Bekker.
Have at it NYC and Orlando...