Michael Farfan, Dylan Remick and Damion Lowe are the only three Seattle Sounders who are eligible to be selected in Stage 1 of the 2016 MLS Re-Entry Draft on Friday at 12 p.m. PT.
To be eligible for selection, a player must either be out of contract or had his contract option declined and either be at least 23 years old with a minimum of three years of MLS experience or at least 25 with a minimum of four years of league experience. Players who are eligible for free agency are not included in the Re-Entry Draft.
If a player is selected in Stage 1, his contract option for 2017 will be exercised. If he’s out of contract, he will receive a legitimate offer from the team who selected him.
Any players not selected in Stage 1 will be eligible for Stage 2 next week where, if selected, a player will negotiate a new contract with his new club.
No player is required to join the Re-Entry process. The Sounders’ Erik Friberg as well as Robbie Keane, Aurelien Collin, Zach Loyd, Patrice Bernier and Ashtone Morgan have all opted out.
The Re-Entry Draft order is determined by the reverse order of the final standings of the 2016 season, taking into account postseason performance. Having won MLS Cup, the Sounders will pick 20th, last of 2016’s MLS teams. Expansion franchises Atlanta United and Minnesota United will pick 21st and 22nd, respectively.
