MLS Re-Entry Draft 2011: Sounders Pick Marc Burch First, 12 Players Selected In Total

The Seattle Sounders got Stage 2 of the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft off to an interesting start, as they acquired the No. 1 pick from the Vancouver Whitecaps and then promptly picked DC United's Marc Burch. The 27-year-old left back reportedly made $97,500 in total compensation last year, a figure the Sounders will undoubtedly looking to cut. The Sounders gave up their third round pick in the 2014 SuperDraft in order to acquire the pick.

The Sounders, like all drafting teams, will have to make a "genuine" offer within seven days. After seven days, the player is free to sign with any team, but the drafting team would retain the right of first refusal.

While that may have been the single biggest move of the draft, the LA Galaxy were easily the most active. They selected six players, including two of their own. In addition to retaining Frankie Hejduk and Dasan Robinson, they also picked Andrew Boyens (Chivas USA), Chris Leitch (San Jose Earthquakes), Pat Noonan (Sounders) and Jon Conway (Chicago Fire). 

The only other team to be particularly active in the draft was the New England Revolution. They picked former Sounders forward Nate Jaqua with the second overall pick and then snapped up former United midfielder Clyde Simms in the second round. The Colorado Rapids picked up Fire midfielder Baggio Husidic and Dynamo fullback Hunter Freeman.

Complete draft results:

Round 1

Sounders: Burch

Revolution: Jaqua

Fire: Kheli Dube

Rapids: Husidic

Galaxy: Boyens

Round 2

Revolution: Simms

Rapids: Freeman

Galaxy: Leitch

Round 3

Galaxy: Noonan

Round 4

Galaxy: Conway

Own players

Galaxy: Hejduk, Robinson

Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft got off to an intriguing start as the Seattle Sounders acquired the No. 1 pick in the draft from the Vancouver Whitecaps. At this time, what they gave up or what their intentions might be are left up to speculation. Here is a list of all the eligible players:

Three players were picked in Stage 1 of the 2011 MLS Re-Entry Draft on Monday, one more than was taken in that phase of the draft last year. Danleigh Borman, Arturo Alvarez and Carlos Mendes were all picked, meaning their new teams will have honor their current contracts or offer them a 5 percent raise over what they made last year if they are currently out of contract. Stage 2 of the draft will take place next Monday and is expected to be more active, as teams can renegotiate the players' contracts.

Alvarez was probably the most surprising player to be picked, as he was likely due a raise on a contract that paid him more than $200,000 last year and Chivas USA is not exactly known for lavishing players with big money. With Real Salt Lake in 2011, Alvarez played in 16 games, but made just eight starts. He only registered a single assist in more than 724 minutes. Alvarez does have a decent MLS track record, having scored at least three goals in six straight seasons heading into 2011 and registering at least six points in four of those seasons.

Borman's selection was probably the most predictable. Last year, he made the league minimum ($42,000), and while he was likely due a raise, he is a decent MLS fullback. He has made at least 15 MLS appearances in each of his four seasons, albeit mostly for teams that weren't very good. There's a good chance he'll start for the New England Revolution, who made him the first pick of the draft.

The Columbus Crew finished off the active stage of the draft by selecting Mendes, a MLS veteran who made just about $100,000 last year. Mendes was the last Red Bulls player to have been with the team during their MetroStars days. He is coming off a season in which he made 16 starts and played 1,505 minutes.

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