What is the Protection List
A protected player or a player included in the protected list refers to a player that a team safeguards from being selected by other MLS teams during the expansion draft. The draft occurs when a new team joins the league and is allowed to select players from existing teams to build its roster.
All 29 teams that competed during the 2024 MLS season can select up to 12 players to protect from their Senior and supplemental rosters.
If a club protects a player, it is not obligated to exercise the option on the player. However, the team can re-negotiate the player’s contract, subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the MLS and the MLSPA.
It is paramount to note that Designated players and other players are not automatically protected, it is the club’s responsibility whether to protect or not the player; in the occurrence that a player is not protected, he will be available for selection in the Expansion Draft.
Moreover, teams with four or more international players must protect at least three international players, not including those who are automatically protected players. Teams with three international players must protect two, while those with only two international players must protect one. A team with just one international player is not obligated to protect the player.
How Many can be There.
A maximum of 12 players per team.
What Does it Mean?
This means that if a player has a no-trade clause in his contract, his MLS club must protect him, and eventually count as one of the 12 players who may be protected. Additionally, expansion teams can’t take a player from a protected list.
Besides, when a player is selected from a team’s unprotected roster, that team is removed from the Expansion Draft and cannot have any additional players selected.
Key Dates
December 10th is the date when the list of players eligible for selection is released by the MLS Communications.
December 11th is the MLS Expansion Draft.
Conclusion
The purpose of the protected player mechanism ensures that existing teams can retain their core players to maintain competitiveness while giving new teams a chance to acquire talent.