Riley up for grabs again

sOunders: Seattle leaves defender unprotected for MLS expansion draft, putting him in a familiar position

DON RUIZ; The News Tribune | • Published November 24, 2009

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Defender James Riley, who started 27 of 30 games for Seattle Sounders FC, wasn’t included Monday on the team’s protected list for the Philadelphia Union expansion draft.

Riley was the only regular starter not protected. However, other unprotected players who started some games for Seattle are Sebastien Le Toux (15), Peter Vagenas (nine), Zach Scott (six), Nate Sturgis (five), Roger Leveque (two), and Sanna Nyassi (two).

Also unprotected is Tyson Wahl (nine starts), whose contract has expired.

All of those players, along with unprotected players from the league’s other 14 teams, will be available to Philadelphia in the 10-round expansion draft at 10 a.m. Wednesday. No team can lose more than one player to the Union.

This marks the third consecutive season that Riley has been made available in an expansion draft. Two seasons ago, San Jose selected him from New England, and last season Seattle selected him from San Jose.

Here are Seattle’s protected players: Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Leo Gonzalez, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Kasey Keller, Freddie Ljungberg, Tyrone Marshall, Fredy Montero and Steve Zakuani.

In one of the other interesting moves across the league, Houston chose not to protect veteran starting goalkeeper Pat Onstand, but instead protected reserve keeper Tally Hall of Gig Harbor.

Schmid out of hospital

Sounders coach Sigi Schmid was released from Bellevue’s Overlake Hospital on Monday.

Schmid had been hospitalized for four nights after experiencing difficulty breathing. He was later diagnosed with pneumonia.

“I’d like to thank all of the friends and fans for their good wishes,” Schmid said in a club press release. “I’m feeling much better and I plan to spend the holiday with family and be back in the office next week.”

Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808

don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com

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