Midfielder King goes ninth in Expansion Draft.

by Dan Gaichas

BRIDGEVIEW, IL--The Chicago Fire have waived forwards Tomasz Frankowski and Andy Herron while midfielder Stephen King was picked up by Seattle Sounders FC in the MLS Expansion Draft. 

Frankowski, a Polish international, made an immediate impact scoring two goals in the home opener on April 3 against New England.  But he would not score again in a Fire shirt with the first team as he would be stuck in the Reserves for the second half of the year.  He did himself no favors after the Fire were eliminated last week by blasting coach Denis Hamlett in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.  In all, Frankowski made 17 appearances for the Fire starting in seven of those matches.

Andy Herron’s second stint with the Fire never really got off the ground.  Re-acquired in February, Herron made 18 appearances this past season starting in four matches, but failing to find the net in league play.  His only significant contribution was to score two goals in a US Open Cup play-in against the Columbus Crew in a 3-2 victory in Peoria back on June 10.  Herron scored 15 goals and three assists in 61 league matches overall for the Fire. 

Both these moves, however, will free up some significant cap space for the 2009 season for the Fire.  Herron was making $102,500 a season while Frankowski was making $214,250. 

Meanwhile, Seattle Sounders FC did pluck a midfielder from the Fire in the MLS Expansion Draft, but it was not Marco Pappa.  It is Stephen King who will be going to the Emerald City after going ninth in the draft.  King played the most minutes amongst Fire rookies this season playing in 20 matches and scoring two goals and an assist this past season. 

King has never been to Seattle, and he admitted mixed feelings to the Tribune’s Luis Arroyave. 

"I'm excited to have this opportunity for a fresh start, but at the same time I was enjoying my time in Chicago," said King. "I'm sad my time ended here so quickly."

King will be joined by a former Fire striker in Nate Jaqua.  Jaqua was selected first in the Expansion Draft on Wednesday afternoon.  Below is the full list of players taken by the Sounders in the Expansion Draft

1. Nate Jaqua (Houston Dynamo)

2. Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake)

3. Jeff Parke (New York Red Bulls)

4. Jarrod Smith (Toronto FC)

5. Khano Smith (New England Revolution)

6. Peter Vagenas (Los Angeles Galaxy)

7. Tyson Wahl (Kansas City Wizards)

8. James Riley (San Jose Earthquakes)

9. Stephen King (Chicago Fire)

10. Brad Evans (Columbus Crew)