This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Major League Soccer's extensive roster rulebook has been known to cause its share of headaches. Ahead of Tuesday's 2016 MLS Expansion Draft, the complex set of rules may give Real Salt Lake a reason to throw back a couple Ibuprofen.

On Monday, RSL, along with the other clubs in league, released their list of protected and unprotected players for incoming expansion franchises Atlanta United and Minnesota United to choose from Tuesday at noon. But there's a hitch on RSL's side that could cost a player it wouldn't otherwise stand to lose. As reported by MLSSoccer.com last week, league rules demand that all clubs include at least three international players on their protected lists for each Expansion Draft.

With former Designated Player Burrito Martinez departing the club last week, RSL's current roster features just two international player slots, occupied by Nigerian midfielder Sunday Stephen and Jamaican left back Demar Phillips. Due to the mandate, RSL was forced to protect Martinez, despite terminating his contract less than a week ago. Which left goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, viewed long-term as a potential replacement for RSL star goalkeeper Nick Rimando, as RSL's lone unprotected player entering Tuesday's Expansion Draft still on the first-team roster.

Also unprotected are players who RSL declined 2017 options on two weeks ago: Javier Morales, Olmes Garcia, Boyd Okwuonu, Jamison Olave, Devon Sandoval, John Stertzer, Emery Welshman, Pedro Baez and Chris Wingert.

RSL's protected list is as follows:

» Forward Yura Movsisyan

» Midfielder Kyle Beckerman

» Forward Joao Plata

» Defender Tony Beltran

» Midfielder Luke Mulholland

» Defender Aaron Maund (out-of-contract, but in contract talks with RSL)

» Goalkeeper Nick Rimando

» Defender Demar Phillips

» Midfielder Sunday Stephen

» Forward Burrito Martinez*

RSL's list of automatically protected players include:

» Midfielder Jordan Allen

» Defender Justen Glad

» Midfielder Danilo Acosta

» Forward Ricardo Velazco

» Midfielder Omar Holness

» Forward Sebastian Saucedo

» Goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez

General manager Craig Waibel told MLSSoccer.com that he'd like to see these rules changed going forward. Many of RSL's foreign players have green cards, which has limited the amount of international slots occupied on the roster.

"Now going to be in a situation with the league rules the way they're written currently, we're going to end up protecting a player that we have no intention of having on our roster next year," he said.

Atlanta United is reportedly closing in on a deal with U.S. men's national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan, which leaves Minnesota United the likelier of the two clubs to be interested in Attinella's services in goal. The 28-year-old has spent the last four seasons at RSL as the No. 2 goalkeeper.

» Bofo returns

Park City's Sebastian Saucedo will be back with the RSL first team in 2017. On Monday, the club announced the 19-year-old forward returned to the team after spending last year on loan to Liga MX club Veracruz in Mexico. "Bofo" Saucedo appeared in four league matches during the Apertura campaign.

Saucedo scored his first professional goal with Veracruz during their Copa MX title run. He signed with RSL in July 2014 as a homegrown player after starring at the Arizona-based academy in Casa Grande, Ariz. Prior to going on loan, he played in nine league matches with RSL, while starting one in 2015. In a video posted on RSL.com, Saucedo said he was featured on the right side of the midfield at Veracruz before transitioning to playing a more familiar central attacking role.

» Free agent lists announced

With MLS clubs announcing who they did and didn't protect ahead of Tuesday's Expansion Draft, the league also released its list of players eligible for upcoming free agency this offseason. And there's plenty of RSL ties in the mix. Morales, Olave and Wingert are on the list, although Waibel has said negotiations with Wingert remain ongoing.

Nat Borchers is also a free agent. The longtime RSL center back is out-of-contract in Portland after helping the Timbers win MLS Cup 2015, but is in the midst of a lengthy rehab after suffering a ruptured left Achilles tendon in July. Former RSL midfielder Will Johnson, part of the Eastern Conference champs Toronto FC, is also a first-time free agent.

Free agency opens up Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. The MLS Waiver Draft is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 15, at noon. The MLS Re-Entry Draft begins the next day, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m.

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani