The San Jose Earthquakes announced on Monday morning their 11-player protected list ahead of the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft to be held tomorrow, and there a few surprises in the group.
Chris Wondolowski was a lock to make the list as the Quakes would never consider leaving their talisman available for selection by either Minnesota United or Atlanta United in the 5 round draft that will be conducted Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. The club’s reigning MVP was joined by no-brainers David Bingham, Anibal Godoy, and Simon Dawkins.
Shea Salinas, who the Quakes famously left unprotected in the 2009 MLS Expansion Draft and subsequently saw their first-ever draft pick get nabbed by the Philadelphia Union, made the cut seven years later as the speedy winger has found a place in head coach Dominic Kinnear’s rotation.