Major League Soccer will distribute former Chivas USA players via a Dispersal Draft on Nov. 19 and on Friday, the LA Galaxy and the rest of the league’s 19 teams learned their placement in that draft.
The LA Galaxy received the 16th overall selection after a Weighted Lottery that saw Western Conference Semifinalist FC Dallas finish with the top pick while New York City FC and Sporting Kansas City round out the top three choices. According to the league, teams will not be allowed to trade their picks to other teams.
But what will the Galaxy do with the selection, if anything?
While there will be several interesting options that are expected to be available like goalkeeper Dan Kennedy or U.S. Under-20 midfielder Marco Delgado, the rules that require clubs to pick up players’ contract options and award them a 2015 roster spot could see only a limited number of players selected.
Given the Galaxy’s place in the draft, they’ll be unlikely to have a chance to select players like Kennedy, Delgado or Englishman Nigel Reo-Coker. However, they may be able to add to their defensive depth by acquiring one of several promising youngsters from the Rojiblancos.
In particular, Bruce Arena and the Galaxy may opt to bolster their defensive depth by acquiring 22-year-old center back Andrew Jean-Baptiste who was highly touted just two years ago after being selected by the Portland Timbers with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Jean-Baptiste took a step backward with the Rojiblancos in 2014, making just 10 appearances, but he possesses the raw size and athleticism that may make him a project going forward.
The options aren’t purely limited to the defensive end, however, as there are several interesting attacking prospects like rookie forward Thomas McNamara or Homegrown striker Caleb Calvert.
McNamara, the 20th overall selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, shined at the start of his rookie season, before suffering a torn ACL and a torn right meniscus in his right knee that ended his season after just six games. How the forward will recover after a major knee injury is concerning, but if provided minutes with a team like LA Galaxy II, he may be able to recover his earlier form.
Meanwhile, Calvert drew considerable attention from youth soccer circles when signed from the Chivas USA Academy midway through the 2013 season, but to date, the teenage forward has yet to play a competitive minute in MLS.
No matter who is available, the Galaxy will likely be best served by passing on whoever is available from the club formerly known as Chivas USA. In the end, there is simply not enough talent available to bolster an already deep Galaxy roster and with the contract constrictions, selecting a player could alter LA’s ability to organize their squad for the 2015 season.
