MLS Expansion Draft results: Atlanta picks trade bait, Minnesota picks contributors

Atlanta United and Minnesota United got a chance to bolster their squads with the MLS Expansion Draft on Tuesday, and they took very different approaches.

Minnesota hasn’t made any big-name signings yet and is in need of players to fill out their squad. The players they added mostly look like players who they need to contribute next season.

But these players were not all drafted because they’ll be the biggest contributors to the team that took them. Atlanta and Minnesota might have left some players that they thought could help them on the board because they believed that their contracts were unfavorable. They also might have picked players who they feel don’t fit their system well, but have high trade value. It looks like Atlanta played a bit more of this game than Minnesota did.

The most likely example of a pick-to-trade is Clint Irwin. He was Toronto FC’s starting goalkeeper this season, but Atlanta has also been linked to USMNT star Brad Guzan. However, Danny Toia and Zach Loyd appear to be picks to fill needs at the top of Atlanta’s draft.

Below, you can find the results of the draft. Here’s the list of players the teams had to choose from.

Atlanta United picks

Round 1: Donny Toia, D, Montreal Impact

Round 3: Zach Loyd, D, FC Dallas

Round 5: Clint Irwin, G, Toronto FC

Round 7: Mikey Ambrose, D, Orlando City

Round 9: Alec Kann, G, Sporting KC

Minnesota United picks

Round 2: Chris Duvall, D, New York Red Bulls

Round 4: Collen Warner, M, Houston Dynamo

Round 6: Mohammed Saeid, M, Columbus Crew

Round 8: Jeff Attinella, G, Real Salt Lake

Round 10: Femi Hollinger-Janzen, F, New England Revolution