MLS expansion draft sparks a torrent of trades
Goalkeeper Clint Irwin and fullback Donny Toia were briefly members of the expansion team Atlanta United on Tuesday.
Both were taken in Tuesday’s MLS draft, which saw Atlanta and Minnesota United pick five players each. But Toronto moved to reacquire Irwin and Toia, taken first overall from the Montreal Impact, was traded to Orlando.
Under the draft rules, no existing team could lose more than one player. The Vancouver Whitecaps were unscathed by the draft.
Montreal picked up a defender by acquiring Chris Duvall, a former Red Bull taken second overall by Minnesota in Tuesday’s draft. The Impact, who also got general allocation money, sent Costa Rican midfielder Johan Venegas to Minnesota to complete the deal.
Duvall is a right back who has also played at centre back.
To get its No. 1 goalkeeper back, Toronto sent reserve fullback Mark Bloom and general allocation money to Atlanta. The 29-year-old Bloom, a former starter, had four assists in 44 appearances in all competitions for Toronto.
“Our hope was to not lose anyone in the expansion draft. No matter how you work your protected list, due to the depth of our roster, we knew it was a possibility and we had to prepare accordingly,” Toronto GM Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement.
The deal was likely made before the draft. Atlanta United president Darren Eales confirmed several “pre-arranged trades” were in place.
Orlando got Toia for a first-round pick — eighth overall — in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.
“We are happy to acquire Donny,” assistant GM Niki Budalic said. “He’s an athletic fullback with MLS experience that will fit into (coach) Jason (Kreis’) style.”
Kreis has ties to Toia, who came up through the Real Salt Lake academy. He was the first homegrown player to be signed to a pro contract by RSL in March 2011, while Kreis coached the senior team.
Toia made 17 appearances for the Impact this season with 15 starts.
Midfielder Collen Warner, a former Toronto and Montreal player most recently with Houston, went to Minnesota in the draft.