For Chivas, the domestic draft is arguably more important than for any other Mexican club.
Other teams can search until September for fresh talent from abroad to strengthen their team, whereas Chivas, who play solely with Mexican players, are largely restricted to signing talent from other Mexican teams.
It´s been long known that because of that fact, other Mexican sides raise their prices or try that little bit harder to hang on to their players when Chivas come calling.
With that in mind, it was an acceptable day at the draft on Wednesday for the Guadalajara-based team, which hasn´t brought in a notable signing in the last couple of years.
Central midfielder Luis Perez signed from Monterrey early in the day to add some much-needed experience in the center of the park and 30-year-old striker Rafael Marquez Lugo joined him late in the evening to ease the burden off the Rebaño Sagrado´s inexperienced crops of forwards.
However, the club missed out on top targets Oribe Peralta and Aldo de Nigris.
Leaving Chivas were Jonny Magallon, "Hulk" Salazar and Edgar Mejia, amongst others.
Perhaps the best thing for Chivas fans was Jorge Vergara stating on Thursday morning that Marco Fabian would not be leaving the club for Europe under any circumstances, until the team becomes champion.
The biggest signing of the day away from Chivas was arguably Mexican international Gerardo Lugo moving from Morelia to current champions Santos Laguna, although rumors suggested Chivas were also keen on the 28-year-old.
In other deals, Alfredo Moreno moved from San Luis to Club Tijuana on loan, América sewed up deals for Adrian Aldrete and Rubens Sambueza and Pachuca signed Alberto Medina and Nestor Calderon.
Pumas confirmed the signings of Emanuel Villa, Martin Romagnoli and Luis Garcia, while Juan Carlos Cacho left the Mexico City club for Toluca.
American Jonathan Bornstein left Tigres to go on loan at Atlante and Edgar Castillo sealed a permanent deal with Club Tijuana.
There were 104 transfers on Wednesday, of which 26 were outright buys and 78 loan deals. A total of just over 26 million dollars was spent by the clubs, a similar amount to the 2011 draft.
By Tom Marshall (@MexicoWorldCup)
