Media Resources

Red Bulls trade for top spot in Waiver Draft, select Epps

Marcus Epps

Fire pick 21-year-old Cristian Martínez and World Cup forward Marco Ureña;
LAFC chooses 23-year-old forward Ricky Lopez-Espin
NEW YORK
(Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018)
– The New York Red Bulls traded for the top pick during Wednesday’s MLS Waiver Draft and selected 23-year-old midfielder
Marcus Epps
with the No. 1 choice. Before the Waiver Draft, the Red Bulls traded their second-round 2019 MLS SuperDraft pick to the San Jose Earthquakes for the No. 1 overall selection in the Waiver Draft.
Epps joins the Red Bulls after spending two seasons with the Philadelphia Union. He tallied three goals and three assists in 32 matches during his tenure in Philadelphia.
The Chicago Fire added two players during the draft, selecting 21-year-old Panamanian midfielder
Cristian MartĂ­nez
and Costa Rican forward
Marco Ureña
, who represented his country at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The Los Angeles Football Club chose 23-year-old forward
Ricky Lopez-Espin
, formerly of Real Salt Lake.
The Waiver Draft consisted of players who had been waived by their clubs but did not meet the minimum years of service requirement for the Re-Entry Draft or Free Agency. Under-contract players selected in the Waiver Draft are automatically added to the drafting club’s roster. Clubs that claimed out-of-contract players are required to issue a genuine offer to the selected player.
Players who were not selected are now free to sign with the team of their choice.

  • CLICK HERE for the full 2018 MLS Waiver Draft guidelines.


PLAYERS SELECTED IN 2018 MLS WAIVER DRAFT

<strong>Rd 1</strong>
<strong>Player</strong>
<strong>Team</strong>
<strong>Former Team</strong>
<strong>1</strong>
<strong>Marcus Epps</strong>
<strong>NYRB (via trade with SJ)</strong>
<strong>Philadelphia Union</strong>
<div align="center">2</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Orlando City SC</div>
<div align="center">3</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Colorado Rapids</div>
<strong>4</strong>
<strong>Cristian Martínez</strong>
<strong>Chicago Fire</strong>
<strong>Columbus Crew SC</strong>
<div align="center">5</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Toronto FC</div>
<div align="center">6</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Minnesota United FC</div>
<div align="center">7</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Houston Dynamo</div>
<div align="center">8</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">New England Revolution</div>
<div align="center">9</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Montreal Impact</div>
<div align="center">10</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Vancouver Whitecaps FC</div>
<div align="center">11</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">LA Galaxy</div>
<div align="center">12</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Philadelphia Union</div>
<div align="center">13</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">D.C. United</div>
<div align="center">14</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">FC Dallas</div>
<strong>15</strong>
<strong>Ricky Lopez-Espin</strong>
<strong>Los Angeles Football Club</strong>
<strong>Real Salt Lake</strong>
<div align="center">16</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Real Salt Lake</div>
<div align="center">17</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Columbus Crew SC</div>
<div align="center">18</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">New York City FC</div>
<div align="center">19</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Seattle Sounders FC</div>
<div align="center">20</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Sporting Kansas City</div>
<div align="center">21</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">San Jose (via trade)</div>
<div align="center">22</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Portland Timbers</div>
<div align="center">23</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Atlanta United</div>
<div align="center">24</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">FC Cincinnati</div>
<strong>Rd 2</strong>
<strong>Player</strong>
<strong>Team</strong>
<strong>Former Team</strong>
<div align="center">25</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">New York Red Bulls</div>
<strong>26</strong>
<strong>Marco Ureña</strong>
<strong>Chicago Fire</strong>
<strong>Los Angeles Football Club</strong>
<div align="center">27</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Los Angeles Football Club</div>
<strong>Rd 3</strong>
<strong>Player</strong>
<strong>Team</strong>
<strong>Former Team</strong>
<div align="center">28</div>
<div align="center">PASS</div>
<div align="center">Chicago Fire</div>