Real Salt Lake: Seattle selects Sturgis

Real Salt Lake figured it was inevitable it would lose a player in Seattle's expansion draft today, which indeed it did.

The Sounders took talented midfielder Nate Sturgis with one of its 10 selections in the expansion draft.

Sturgis is a promising young player in MLS, but injuries are a real concern — a reason RSL didn't put him on its protected list. Sturgis only played three games this season due to a hamstring injury, the same injury that cost him a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in China.

Sturgis along with Robbie Findley were acquired from the L.A. Galaxy on June 21, 2007 in the trade that sent Chris Klein to Southern California. A calf injury in 2007 limited Sturgis to just three games with Real Salt Lake as well.

If Seattle can find a way to keep him healthy, the St. Augustine, Fla. native could be a starter for years to come for the Sounders.

The remaining nine players selected by Seattle are: Nate Jaqua (Houston), Brad Evans (Columbus), Stephen King (Chicago), Jeff Parke (New York), James Riley (San Jose), Khano Smith (New England), Jarrod Smith (Toronto FC), Peter Vagenas (L.A. Galaxy) and Tyson Wahl (Kansas City).

The four MLS teams who didn't lose a player were D.C. United, Chivas USA, FC Dallas and Colorado.