RSL announces protected list ahead of Expansion Draft

Austin FC can select from RSL’s list of eight players, but this year sees no great players ripe for the picking.

In one of Major League Soccer’s most time-honored traditions, teams have started announcing their protected list before new teams (in this case, the creatively named Austin FC) can pluck players from clubs, and Real Salt Lake is no exception.

Here’s ours.

• Kyle Beckerman
• Nick Besler
• Maikel Chang
• Damir Kreilach
• Everton Luiz
• Douglas Martinez
• Justin Meram
• Jeizon Ramirez
• Pablo Ruiz
• Albert Rusnak
• Marcelo Silva
• Donny Toia

And there’s a slew of players who aren’t available, owing to their homegrown status:

• Luis Arriaga
• Corey Baird
• Christopher Garcia
• Justen Glad
• Aaron Herrera
• Erik Holt
• Milan Iloski
• David Ochoa
• Tate Schmitt
• Julian Vazquez

And players who weren’t contracted in 2020 aren’t eligible, either:

• Andrew Brody
• Bode Davis
• Noah Powder

That means the following players can be selected:

• Zac MacMath
• Andrew Putna
• Alvin Jones
• Ashtone Morgan
• Nedum Onuoha (retired)
• Luke Mulholland
• Justin Portillo
• Giuseppe Rossi

Maybe Austin FC will pick Giuseppe Rossi. That would be kind of funny.

Anyway, there’s the list. Any surprises? (No. The answer is ‘no.’)