Less than 24 hours after winning the 2010 MLS Cup, the Colorado Rapids shipped two defenders to Seattle for midfielder Peter Vagenas.

The team also announced its list of 11 protected players for the 2010 MLS Expansion Draft, which takes place Wednesday at noon to help stock the rosters of the expansion Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps. The two teams begin play in 2011.
 
Each current MLS club has had the opportunity to protect 11 players from their 2010 roster. Generation adidas players (who did not graduate at the end of the 2010 season) and Homegrown players are automatically protected and do not count against a team’s 11 protected roster spots. Designated Players with a no trade clause in their contract must be protected.  MLS Clubs may lose no more than two players from their 2010 roster during the Expansion Draft.
 
Through the Expansion Priority Draft, Portland earned the first selection in the Expansion Draft. 
 
In addition, the Rapids acquired Vagenas in a trade with the Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for defenders Julien Baudet and Danny Earls. Vagenas has appeared in 204 games and scored 14 goals and added 27 assists while playing with the LA Galaxy and Seattle during his 11-year MLS career.  

Both defenders had been critical cogs in the defense at the start of the season, with Baudet in the center and Earls at left back. The emergence of Marvell Wynne as a center back and a hamstring injury to Baudet significantly cut the veteran’s playing time. Although he came on late in the playoffs against Columbus — and scored a key penalty kick after extra time — and again against FC Dallas in the final, Baudet’s future with the team was unclear.

Earls had been a fiery choice at left back, but the emergence of Anthony Wallace made him expendable. After Wallace joined the team, Earls was relegated to the substitute’s bench and saw little action in the second half of the season.

The surprise is that the Rapids traded for another aging midfielder. Captain Pablo Mastroeni is 34, right side midfielder Brian Mullan turns 33 in April, Vagenas will be 33 in February, and Jamie Smith just turned 30. Only Jeff Larentowicz (27) is younger than 30 among the midfield regulars.
 
COLORADO RAPIDS PROTECTED PLAYERS
Goalkeeper: Matt Pickens
Defenders: Kosuke Kimura, Drew Moor, Marvell Wynne
Midfielders: Jeff Larentowicz, Pablo Mastroeni, Brian Mullan, Jamie Smith
Forwards: Conor Casey, Omar Cummings, Macoumba Kandji
 
In addition to this list, Rapids midfielder Davy Armstrong is automatically protected by the Rapids due to his Homegrown Player status.
 
COLORADO RAPIDS PLAYERS AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION
Goalkeepers: Steward Ceus, Ian Joyce
Defenders: Scott Palguta, Anthony Wallace
Midfielders: Ross LaBauex, Claudio Lopez, Ciaran O’Brien, Wells Thompson, Peter Vagenas
Forwards:  Andre Akpan, Quincy Amarikwa, Ross Schunk

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