MLS teams revealed their expansion draft-protected players list this evening. The Rapids, who had already reduced their overall roster to 18 players on November 27, protected 11 players. Another 4 players were automatically protected due to their Homegrown Player status.
Among the players the Rapids had re-signed for 2018, the Rapids left only Sam Hamilton and Mike da Fonte exposed to selection by new expansion franchise LAFC. This was what we expected, with the one exception being Johan Blomberg. Burgundy Wave expected he would be protected, but apparently MLS did not require the yet-to-report player be exposed to the expansion draft.