New England Soccer Today

Fagundez, Mullins Among Revs Left Unprotected

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Just one day after losing the MLS Cup, the Revolution stayed in the MLS spotlight Monday evening as they left a pair of promising attacking players exposed to Wednesday’s expansion draft.  The Revolution’s list of 11 protected players left off Massachusetts native Diego Fagundez and 2014 SuperDraft first round selection Patrick Mullins.

After showing great potential with 13 goals and 7 assists in 2013, Diego Fagundez regressed during the 2014 season with 5 goals, 4 assists, and finishing the season as a bench player.  Despite the setbacks, the 19-year-old Fagundez, who was recently called up to the Uruguay U-20 team, is expected to be in the Revoluton’s long-term plans as Revolution President Brian Bilello stated on twitter that neither Orlando or NYCFC will take Fagundez, as a condition of a trade made with both teams.  Furthermore, Bilello stated that Fagundez, who has previously been on the radar of some international teams, will be on the Revolution for 2015.

Patrick Mullins may have a different fate come Wednesday.  Mullins was selected 11th overall in the 2014 SuperDraft by the Revolution.  Although he was not a starter consistently for the Revolution in 2014, he registered 4 goals in 19 appearances and played well in the MLS Cup, registering an assist on the squad’s only goal.

Other notable players include starting center-back A.J. Soares, Darrius Barnes,  and Steve Neumann.  Soares was the 2014 Revolution Defender of the Year and a 2011 first-round SuperDraft selection by the Revolution.  Despite these awards and contributions to the Revolution over the previous season, Soares was left unprotected under speculation that he intends to leave the club and pursue a European career.

Fellow defender Darrius Barnes is also unprotected.  Barnes spent most of the tail-end of the season as a reserve, but started 16 games in 2014, while contributing a goal and two assists.  A former Revolution third-round SuperDraft pick in 2009, Barnes started 30, 20, and 22 games in 2009, 2010, and 2011, respectively, before injuries and increased defensive depth on the club reduced his playing time in recent years.

Neumann, who was taken ahead of Patrick Mullins in the 2014 SuperDraft, is also a victim of there not being enough protected spots.  The midfielder made 23 appearances, but only 3 starts, in the 2014 campaign, but failed to register a goal or assist.  However, the 23-year old has high potential and may be one of the players called in Wednesday’s draft.

The Expansion Draft consists of 10 rounds between Orlando City and NYCFC, meaning a total of 20 unprotected players will be drafted.  Only two unprotected players may be taken from a team, and seemingly one of the Revolution’s 2014 SuperDraft selections – Patrick Mullins and Steve Neumann – are the most likely to be called Wednesday.

In addition, once an unprotected player is taken, his former team may protect an additional player who previously was exposed to the expansion draft.  For example, if Mullins is taken, the Revolution are eligible to protect an additional player, such as Neumann.

The Revolution used their 11 protected spots on Kevin Alston, Teal Bunbury (whose contract expires after the 2014 season), Charlie Davies, Andrew Farrell, Jose Goncalves, Jermaine Jones, Daigo Kobayashi, Lee Nguyen, Kelyn Rowe, Bobby Shuttleworth, and Chris Tierney.  Scott Caldwell is also automatically protected as a homegrown player on the team’s Supplemental Roster.

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