Update: Mark Sherrod has now been traded to Dominic Kinnear’s San Jose Earthquakes.

With the MLS Cup Final in the rear view mirror, the first real step towards the 2015 season was taken this afternoon with the MLS Expansion Draft. With Orlando City SC and New York City FC given the opportunity to select 10 players each from the unprotected players list of every other MLS team, the two expansion teams now have a large percentage of their team in place.

Following the release of the protected/unprotected list by the Houston Dynamo earlier this week, much debate has taken place as to which players might be taken with the focus of discussion being Corey Ashe, Mark Sherrod, David Horst and the newly acquired Joe Willis.

Former Dynamo Tony Cascio was the first from last year’s team to go, however, going to Orlando City in the 2nd round of the expansion draft. It would not be until the 9th round that a current Dynamo player would be selected. When Orlando City named a Dynamo player, it was the worst case scenario from a Dynamo fan standpoint: Mark Sherrod.

The rookie forward impressed in limited time with the club last season before tearing his ACL against DC United on May 21st – his third consecutive start. In nine appearances, including three starts, Sherrod scored two goals and had an assist.

More impressive, however, was his combination of size and pace. He was both strong in the air and deceptively fast, with an engine that never ceased which quickly endeared him to Dynamo fans.

In selecting Sherrod, Orlando City gains a player who, if he fully recovers, could become a regular starter with the added benefit that he has a very low cap hit. Sherrod was selected in the 2nd round of the 2014 MLS College Draft to an entry level contract with a cap hit of $48,504.

Once Sherrod was taken, the Dynamo had the ability to protect another player and elected to protect Willis.

No other Houston Dynamo player was taken in the draft. The big surprise was not so much the fact that Ashe was not selected; his salary cap hit is a barrier there, but that Horst was not selected. Experienced and starter caliber center backs at such a low cap hit (around $70,000) are difficult to find. At a minimum, Horst would have provided depth at a low cost for either expansion team.

In selecting both Cascio and Sherrod, Orlando City is taking the risk that the players can fully recover from their torn ACL’s. Having rehabbed together in Houston, the pair will have the chance to cheer each other on in the remainder of their recovery. Cascio returned to the pitch as a substitute in the final match of the season and is further along than Sherrod, but both should be ready to play by the start of the new season.

More MLS Expansion Draft analysis to come from Orange in the Oven.