Seattle Selects Ten Through Expansion Draft

The Seattle Sounders have taken the next step in building their new side via the expansion draft. The onus for the expansion team continued to be on solid midfield play as five of the ten draft picks were spent on midfielders.

Nate Jaqua was probably the least surprising choice of the draft. Taken with the first pick of the expansion draft, the Houston Dynamo striker is a proven scorer with ties to the Pacific North West.

Jeff Parke of New York, the solid MLS veteran who ran into some trouble in 2008, should be a solid beginning to the Seattle back line that will play in front of Kasey Keller. Tyson Wahl and James Riley are each capable defenders, but the team will still need to address their need for depth at the back before they begin play in 2009.

Joining Freddie Ljungberg in the midfield will be Brad Evans of the Columbus Crew. Evans is a tireless worker who earned his way into the best team in MLS during the 2008 season.

Seattle, as expected, avoided some of the bigger names on the list of available players but did a fine job of bringing talented yet cost-efficient players.

The rest of the squad will take shape over the next few months with several MLS veterans excepted to be available to Seattle during the off-season.

Full List and Draft Order

Nate Jaqua (Houston Dynamo) Forward

Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake) Midfield

Jeff Parke (New York Red Bulls) Defense

Jarrod Smith (Toronto FC) Forward

Khano Smith (New England Revolution) Midfield/ Forward

Peter Vagenas (Los Angeles Galaxy) Midfield

Tyson Wahl (Kansas City Wizards) Defense

James Riley (San Jose Earthquakes) Defense

Stephen King (Chicago Fire) Midfield

Brad Evans (Columbus Crew)

The players selected will join Seattle officially on Friday so Jaqua will be available for Houston tonight when they take on Luis Angel Firpo in a CONCACAF Champions League match.

--Allen Ramsey, Goal.com