ΒΕΤΤΙΝG NEWSLETTERS: Kick Off: Trades in MLS | Expansion Draft player list

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Kick Off: Trades in MLS | Expansion Draft player list | 2015 MLS match ball Untitled Document

Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about today:

1. WHO'S AVAILABLE IN EXPANSION DRAFT?

When the Half-Day Trade Window show at 1 pm ET on Monday (see below), teams then set about unveiling their protected and unprotected lists for Wednesday's Expansion Draft. There are certainly some good options for Orlando City SC and New York City FC to choose from, including D.C. United striker Eddie Johnson.

2. ORLANDO MAKES MOVES

Orlando City came flying out of the gates in the trade window, securing Aurelien Collin and Amobi Okugo from Sporting KC and the Philadelphia Union, respectively, as well as signing 19-year-old Honduran striker Bryan Rochez.

3. UNION OPTIONS

The Union were also busy. Beyond the Okugo trade -- the player explained why it was time to move on -- head coach Jim Curtin and technical director Chris Albright brought in C.J. Sapong from Sporting Kansas City and picked up the options on a good number of players for 2015.

4. SPORTING DEALS

In addition to the two aforementioned trades, Sporting KC had two other items on Monday. First, they acquired Bernardo Anor from Columbus Crew SC, and second, Goal.com's Ives Galarcep reports that Soony Saad is set to sign with a club in Thailand.

5. IN DEFENSE OF NYC FC

Beyond Anor, Crew SC also sent long-serving defender Josh Williams to New York City FC. It was one of several moves by the expansion side, who acquired Omar Salgado from the Vancouver Whitecaps, but only in order to transfer him to an as yet unnamed international club. NYC also picked up a few international slots from D.C. United in exchange for allocation money.

There he'll join Designated Player David Villa, who has leapt to the defense of his new club.

6. TRADE & TRANSFER

With Salgado gone, the Whitecaps got to work securing players, including signing of Matias Laba fully from Toronto FC and picking up the options on nine of their players for 2015. Sebastian Fernandez was not one of the nine, and head coach Carl Robinson says "we're probably going to lose Seba."

7. NEW PLAYERS IN PORTLAND

The Portland Timbers were perhaps the busiest club on Monday. Their moves included trading for Nat Borders from Real Salt Lake; signing new three players -- Ghanaian international goalkeeper Adam Larsen Kwarasey, Colombian winger Dairon Asprilla, and Brazilian left back Jeanderson Perreira; trading Michael Harrington to Colorado; purchasing Alvas Powell outright; and selling Jose Adolfo Valencia.

8. RAPID REMAKE

Harrington wasn't the only player the Colorado Rapids picked up on Monday. Pablo Mastroeni's side acquired Dimitry Imbongo and Geoffrey Castillion from the New England Revolution in exchange for goalkeeper Joe Nasco.

9. NEW MEN IN HOUSTON?

While the Houston Dynamo have reached a deal for Owen Coyle to become their new head coach, the club also made some roster moves, including trading Andrew Driver to D.C. United in exchange for goalkeeper Joe Willis and defender Samuel Inkoom.

10. ON NOT PROTECTING FAGUNDEZ

Diego Fagundez may have fallen down the New England Revolution's depth chart, but he was still called into Uruguay's preliminary Under-20 squad for the South American Championships, and, while he wasn't protected by the Revs for the Expansion Draft, club brass assured fans that "he'll be with #NERevs next year."

11. HAVING A BALL

MLS and adidas revealed the 2015 official match ball on Monday. "The most tested ball in adidas history," it's got a new name and a new look, including American stars and Canadian maple leafs.

12. RED BULLS GOING (USL) PRO

According to SBISoccer.com, the New York Red Bulls have shifted directions and rather than have a USL PRO affiliate, they plan to launch their own side.

13. HAHNEMANN RETIRES

Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann -- who originally announced his retirement five days ago while "hanging in a treehouse" -- made it official on Monday. "The cool part is that I got to start my career off as a Sounder, and I got to end it as a Sounder," he said.

14. DONOVAN PASSES MANTLE

Landon Donovan is also officially retired now, and while the departing superstar leaves behind a great legacy, was it perhaps fitting that Gyasi Zardes should score an important goal in Donovan's final game?

15. NEW US SOCCER STRATEGY

US Soccer on Monday announced sweeping changes to its player development program in the US, including a new top tier coaching qualification and working with the NCAA to extend the college soccer season. Meanwhile, the US Under-17 team learned their opposition in the upcoming CONCACAF Championships.

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