Ridge Mahoney analyzes San Jose's player moves
A condition of the expansion draft is San Jose need not accept a player's current salary; it can renegotiate a player's salary up or down. A traded player or one claimed on waivers is not subject to this condition.

Combined salaries for the players currently on San Jose's roster is about $700,000 following the trade of midfielder Brian Carroll ($115,000 base) to Columbus in exchange for Kei Kamara, who as a Generation adidas player is exempt from the salary cap. He's played 36 games in two seasons and will retain that status at least one more year.
The acquisition of Chivas USA keeper Preston Burpo for a fourth-round draft pick ($52,492 base in 2007) doesn't affect the cap much and he may come back at a lower salary.

The cap is going up slightly, from $2.1 million to $2.25 million, so that leaves the Quakes with more than half of their 18-man roster filled and nearly two-thirds of the salary cap to play with, as well as three allocations as an expansion team, which in the past have been worth $250,000 each.

Do the math. San Jose has 11 players. All slots are filled and at least two guys can play at least two positions: Frank Yallop has a goalkeeper, four or five defenders, three or four midfielders, and two forwards. What do you call that? A good start.

Crew coach Sigi Schmid has decided not to pick up the options of Jacob Thomas ($84,000), Andy Herron ($140,000), Bill Gaudette ($30,000), and Rusty Pierce ($63,000). Before the Crew can renegotiate their contracts, should it wish to do so, they must go through a waiver draft, which according to a source -- but not yet confirmed by the league -- will take place this week. Columbus will also be receiving a major allocation for missing the playoffs.