Inter Miami CF Fills Out Roster In MLS Expansion Draft
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – Inter Miami CF filled out its roster for next season in the Major League Soccer expansion draft held on Tuesday.
The team selected five players from a pool of 222 left unprotected by their current MLS teams.
Miami added defender Ben Sweat, a Florida native, from NYCFC with its first selection. Sweat, a first-round draft pick by the Columbus Crew in 2014, has played three seasons in New York. This past season he appeared in 18 games with 13 starts.
Miami also added Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell, LAFC midfielder Lee Nguyen, Columbus midfielder Luis Argudo and Seattle backup goalkeeper Bryan Meredith.
"We're excited about what we were able to accomplish with this draft," said Inter Miami Sporting Director Paul McDonough. "We feel we are gaining momentum ahead of the 2020 season."
Inter Miami wasn't drafting alone though. Fellow expansion franchise Nashville SC also selected five players.
With its first pick, Nashville selected Minnesota striker Abu Danladi, who played in 24 games this past season with four starts and a pair of goals.
Nashville also selected Portland defender Zarek Valentin, New England defender Jalil Anibaba, Atlanta forward Brandon Vazquez and Sporting Kansas City defender Jimmy Medranda.
Nashville traded Valentin to the Houston Dynamo for goalkeeper Joe Willis. The expansion team also acquired goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for allocation money and a 2020 International roster spot, and got allocation money from Cincinnati in exchange for Vazquez.
Nashville also acquired defender Daniel Lovitz from the Montreal Impact in exchange for allocation money and a 2020 international roster spot.
Miami traded allocation money for Cincinnati's No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft.
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry and Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts, a Nashville native, helped to announce Nashville's picks at an expansion draft party. Earlier this week, Nashville announced it would host Atlanta United in the team's first official match on Feb. 29.
Inter Miami's first home match will be March 14 against the LA Galaxy at the new Fort Lauderdale Stadium.
The Galaxy also re-signed midfielder Sebastian Lletget.
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
