Major League Soccer announced the dates and updated details for the 2019 postseason roster mechanisms as current MLS clubs and MLS expansion clubs alike make crucial decisions about their 2020 rosters.
Following a 10-week roster freeze, MLS clubs will have the opportunity to participate in a two-and-a-half-day trade window that opens on Nov. 11 (12 p.m. CT), the day after 2019 MLS Cup, and closes on Nov. 13 (7 p.m.). The expanded window this season provides MLS clubs an additional two days to complete transactions prior to a blackout period whereby clubs may no longer make roster moves in anticipation of the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft.
On Nov. 19, the 2019 Expansion Draft will air live on MLSsoccer.com beginning at 4:30 p.m. and consist of Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC selecting five players each from the eligible player list.
MLS today confirmed that the full list of players eligible for selection in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft will be released on Nov. 16, at 9 a.m., three days prior to the draft. The five MLS clubs that had a player selected in the 2018 Expansion Draft will be exempt from losing a player this year, while the remaining 19 MLS clubs will this year have the opportunity to protect up to 12 players from their draft-eligible roster.
Following the Expansion Draft, clubs will have an additional two days to make final determinations on their rosters prior to a Nov. 21 option exercise deadline.
On Nov. 22, MLS Communications will release the list of players eligible for each of the postseason roster mechanisms, including the End-of-Year Waivers, Free Agency, and the Re-Entry Process.
The details and dates for each of the postseason roster mechanisms follows below:
| 2019 MLS Offseason Calendar | |
|---|---|
| Nov. 11-13 1:00 PM ET | Trade Window Opens Following a 10-week roster freeze, MLS clubs may sign and trade players. |
| Nov. 13 8:00 PM ET | Trade Window Closes and Blackout Period Begins Blackout Period begins whereby clubs may no longer sign and/or trade players until conclusion of 2019 Expansion Draft. |
| Nov. 14 | Club Deadline to submit Bona Fide Offers MLS clubs notify the League Office in writing of players who have been extended a bona fide offer. |
| Nov. 19 5:00 PM ET | 2019 MLS Expansion Draft Watch live in the MLS app or on MLSsoccer.com. Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC may select up to five players each from the eligible player list. The list of players eligible for selection in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft will be released on Nov. 16 at 10:00 AM ET. Expansion Draft Rules |
| Nov. 21 1:00 PM ET | Club Deadline to Exercise Options MLS clubs notify the League Office in writing of players whose options they are exercising. |
| Nov. 25 3:00 PM ET | End-of-Year Waivers The End-of-Year Waivers process is conducted in reverse order of 2019 season finish, taking into account postseason performance. Per the Expansion Priority Draft, Nashville SC will have the 25th pick and Inter Miami CF will have the final selection in each round. Eligible for selection are players who do not meet the minimum requirements for Re-Entry Process or Free Agency. The list of players eligible for the End-of-Year Waivers will be released on Nov. 22 End-of-Year Waivers Rules |
| Nov. 25 3:00 PM ET | Free Agency Opens Clubs may engage with players, other than their own, that are eligible for Free Agency. Free Agency eligible players are out-of-contract and option-declined players who are at least 28 years old and who have completed a minimum of eight service years. The complete list of Free Agents will be released on Nov. 22. |
| Nov. 26 3:00 PM ET | 2019 MLS Re-Entry Process – Stage 1 The Re-Entry Process, Stage 2 is conducted in the same format as Stage 1 and consists of MLS players who were not selected in the Stage 1. Not all unselected Stage 1 players will be available for selection as players may re-sign with their previous club between stages or may opt out of the process. The list of players eligible for selection in the Re-Entry Process – Stage 1 will be released on Nov. 22. MLS Re-Entry Process Rules |
| Dec. 3 3:00 PM ET | 2019 MLS Re-Entry Process – Stage 2 The Re-Entry Process is conducted in reverse order of 2019 season finish, taking into account postseason performance. Per the Expansion Priority Draft, Nashville SC will have the 25th pick and Inter Miami CF will have the final selection in each round. The list of players eligible for selection in the Re-Entry Process – Stage 2 will be released on Nov. 3 at 10:00 AM ET. MLS Re-Entry Process Rules |
