SAN JOSE — Costa Rican striker Marco Urena was left off the Earthquakes’ protected list and provides an enticing option for Los Angeles FC in the expansion draft Tuesday.
The Quakes announced Sunday their 11 protected players, giving a hint at the direction for the 2018 season. The biggest surprise was exposing Urena, who had five goals and three assists in 25 games in Major League Soccer debut this past season. He also helped lead Costa Rica to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Another interesting move was the decision not to protected Panama’s Harold Cummings, a promising center back who didn’t play in 2017 after breaking a leg in a home accident.