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The MLS offseason has officially started. With MLS Cup 2018 finishing last night, the league marches towards 2019 today. There was a four-hour trade window Sunday morning with a few moves being reported and some of the officially confirmed.
Sporting Kansas City has not been linked to any trades that teams have started to make today but something could still come through. Neither the team, their official mouthpiece nor any of our sources have indicated Sporting KC will be active today.
Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers players may not have had much time to celebrate or mourn today. The clubs should have notified the league of players they have exercised contract options on or are making bona fide offers.
Clubs are now in a blackout period and may not sign or trade and of their own draft eligible players until after the Expansion Draft on December 11th.
We will of course take a look in the near future at how these may affect Sporting KC.
Expansion Draft – December 11th 1 P.M.
Only a single player can be drafted from any one club. Sporting KC is one of five teams that can not lose anyone in the Expansion Draft since Los Angeles took Latif Blessing last year.
Free Agency Begins – December 11th 2 P.M.
After the Expansion Draft, clubs may negotiate with players that are eligible for Free Agency. Free Agency has not been kind for Sporting KC so far but manager Peter Vermes could dip into the veteran experience pool once again.
2018 MLS Waiver Draft – December 12th
Players who have been waived by clubs and do not meet minimum years of service requirement for Re-Entry Draft or Free Agency are eligible in this draft. The Waiver Draft runs in reverse order of 2018 season finish, taking into account postseason performance. FC Cincinnati selects.
2018 MLS Re-Entry Draft – Stage 1 – December 14th
Both stages of the Re-Entry Draft also runs in reverse order of 2018 season finish, taking into account postseason performance, with FC Cincinnati selecting last.
2018 MLS Re-Entry Draft – Stage 2 – December 20th
The Re-Entry Draft Stage 2 consists of MLS players who were not selected in the Stage 1. Not necessarily all unselected Stage 1 players will be available as players may re-sign with their previous club between stages or may opt out of the process. Teams selecting players in Stage 2 may negotiate new contracts with the player.