MLS conducted the 2020 Expansion Draft on Tuesday, and lo and behold, the San Jose Earthquakes were indirectly involved, as 2021 expansion team Austin FC selected forward Danny Hoesen with the No. 1 pick.
Hoesen is out of contract with the San Jose Earthquakes after four seasons at the club, and the team had already announced the Dutch forward will not be returning for the 2021 season, so this is not a particularly consequential departure considering he was not in their plans, anyway.
And in fact, because Austin selected an Earthquakes player (for a couple more weeks officially), not only will San Jose get a chunk of allocation money, $50,000, for technically losing a player, they will also be exempt from the next Expansion Draft and therefore don’t have to worry about losing a player next time around.