Timbers release protected player list ahead of 2018 MLS Expansion Draft

Ahead of Tuesday's 2018 MLS Expansion Draft (11am PT, MLSsoccer.com), the Portland Timbers protected the following players:

GK :: Jeff Attinella
M/F :: Sebastían Blanco
M :: Diego Chara
F :: Jeremy Ebobisse
D :: Marco Farfan (Homegrown Player)
M :: David Guzmán
F :: Foster Langsdorf (Homegrown Player)
D :: Larrys Mabiala
F :: Lucas Melano
M :: Cristhian Paredes
M :: Andy Polo
M :: Diego Valeri
D :: Jorge Villafaña
M :: Eryk Williamson (Homegrown Player)

2018 MLS Expansion Draft process:

FC Cincinnati may select up to five players from the eligible MLS player pool. Only a single player can be drafted from any one club.

• Five rounds - FC Cincinnati can claim a single player from any one club
• Three minutes for each selection
• No timeouts
• No trades permitted during draft

Players and teams exempt from the draft:

• The five teams that had players selected by the LAFC in the 2017 MLS Expansion Draft exempt from the 2018 Expansion Draft:

<ul><li>Columbus Crew SC</li><li>San Jose Earthquakes</li><li>Seattle Sounders FC</li><li>Sporting Kansas City</li><li>Toronto FC</li></ul></li><li>Players automatically exempted from the 2018 Expansion Draft:
<ul><li>Generation adidas players (who did not graduate at the end of the 2018 season)</li><li>Homegrown Players on a club’s off-budget roster</li></ul></li></ul>

DESIGNATED PLAYERS are not automatically protected. If a Designated Player has a no trade clause in his contract, then the club must protect him in the Expansion Draft.

For a full list of available players, visit MLSsoccer.com.