A number of enticing names are on offer at this year's MLS Re-Entry Draft.
If history is any indication, there won’t be much player movement via the Stage One Re-Entry Draft on Thursday. Only six players have been selected in the three years of Stage One drafts.
However, of the 68 players available, there are many quality options for selecting teams.
Here are some of the top players at each position.
Defenders
Ugo Ihemelu – He sat out the entire 2013 season with FC Dallas after suffering a concussion in 2012. The 30-year-old Nigerian is a presence if he can get back onto the field.
Bobby Boswell – The big center back has helped the Dynamo reach the MLS Cup final in two of the last three years and had them on the cusp in 2013. The 2006 MLS Defender of the Year has been a stalwart on the Houston backline since coming over from DC United in 2008.
Sean Franklin – The attack-minded right back played his first six MLS seasons with the LA Galaxy, including 33 appearances in 2013. He has five goals and 20 assists in his career and can move to the midfield as well.
Heath Pearce – The versatile defender can play left back or center back. He had his best MLS season in 2010 with FC Dallas when he had six assists in 28 matches.
Brandon Barklage – After three years on the bench with DC United, he came to New York and proved his worth as an outside back, registering five assists in 2012 and 2013.
Midfielders
Joel Lindpere – The 32-year-old Estonian international played three seasons with the New York Red Bulls and notched 15 goals and 18 assists before relocating to Chicago last season, netting two goals and eight assists in 25 appearances for the Fire.
David Ferreira – The 2010 MLS MVP had three goals and nine assists in 30 matches last year for FC Dallas. At 34 years old, he may not still have the form of the eight goals and 13 assists in 2010, but he can still create scoring chances with the ball at his feet.
Mauro Rosales – The 32-year-old Argentine led Sounders FC in assists in each of his three seasons, giving him 34 in his career to go with 12 goals.
Steve Zakuani – He has only played 22 matches in the last three seasons, but if he can return to his form of 2010 when he had 10 goals and six assists in 29 matches, he could prove a valuable addition to a team.
Forwards
Chris Rolfe – The 30-year-old veteran has 48 goals and 22 assists in 176 career matches. He’s a hard-working scorer, but had just four goals and one assist in 31 matches last season with the Chicago Fire.
Dwayne De Rosario – The 2012 MLS MVP had his worst season at 35 years old last season with just three goals and two assists for DC United. In 13 MLS seasons, he has scored in double-digits four times and had three seasons with at least 10 assists, totaling 103 goals and 77 assists.
Kenny Cooper – The 29-year-old has played for three teams in the last three seasons, but continues to be a scoring threat. He was second on FC Dallas with six goals last year, but twice has scored 18 goals in a season, including in 2012 with the New York Red Bulls. He has 72 goals in 188 career matches.
Fabian Espindola – After six seasons with Real Salt Lake, he moved to the New York Red Bulls last season and was third behind Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry with nine goals, giving him 44 goals in 153 career matches.
Stage One starts at noon PT on Thursday and Sounders FC is 13th in the draft order.
In Stage One, clubs must exercise the option for all players selected or extend a Bona Fide Offer to any player out of contract. Should the player decline the Bona Fide Offer, the drafting club will hold the MLS rights for that player.
Available players
Chicago Fire: Corben Bone, Shaun Francis, Joel Lindpere, Daniel Paladini, Logan Pause, Chris Rolfe, Maicon Santos, Wells Thompson and Michael Videira.
Chivas USA: Ante Jazic, Steve Purdy and Josue Soto.
Colorado Rapids: Steward Ceus, Brian Mullan and Jamie Smith.
Columbus Crew: Danny O’Rourke and Konrad Warzycha.
DC United: Dwayne De Rosario, James Riley, Carlos Ruiz, Marcelo Saragosa, John Thorrington and Daniel Woolard.
FC Dallas: Kenny Cooper, David Ferreira and Ugo Ihemelu.
Houston Dynamo: Bobby Boswell, Calen Carr, Michael Chabala, Alex Dixon and Cam Weaver.
LA Galaxy: Colin Clark, Laurent Courtois, Sean Franklin and Pablo Mastroeni.
Montreal Impact: Sinisa Ubiparipovic.
New England Revolution: Kevin Alston, Chad Barrett, Ryan Guy, Clyde Simms and Juan Toja.
New York Red Bulls: Andre Akpan, Brandon Barklage, Fabian Espindola, Kevin Hartman and Heath Pearce.
Philadelphia Union: Chris Albright.
Portland Timbers: David Horst and Ryan Miller.
Real Salt Lake: Yordany Alvarez, Brandon McDonald, Josh Saunders and Khari Stephenson.
Seattle Sounders FC: Marc Burch, Josh Ford, Blair Gavin, Mauro Rosales and Steve Zakuani.
San Jose Earthquakes: Nana Attakora, Mehdi Ballouchy, Dan Gargan and Evan Newton.
Toronto FC: Justin Braun and Bobby Convey.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Joe Cannon, Tommy Heinemann, Corey Hertzog and Brad Knighton.
