Monday marked Contract Deadline Day in Major League Soccer, meaning that all clubs (apart from the four still participating in the MLS Cup playoffs) had to announce which player contract options they’d picked up and which players they’d effectively cut.
While the Chicago Fire and DC United still haven’t gone public with their decisions, clubs like the LA Galaxy, Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake have completed a myriad of roster moves following disastrous seasons. The scorched earth policy employed by those sides means that 2018 will provide a fresh slate for 2017’s biggest losers.
Apart from the contract options, there are also some big names who are simply out of contract now. Some will explore free agency while others will explore opportunities overseas.
Here are 20 big changes (10 players whose contracts weren’t exercised/10 players who are out of contract) to start the MLS offseason in earnest.
2017 MLS Contract Deadline Day Moves
OPTIONS NOT EXERCISED
Jermaine Jones | LA Galaxy
Photo: @18clubsg | Twitter
Darren Mattocks | Portland Timbers
Photo: @pustulkaa | Twitter
Dillon Powers | Orlando City
Photo: @fanly_orlandofc | Twitter
Mike Grella | New York Red Bulls
Photo: @SleterFC | Twitter
David Ousted | Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Photo: @JohnMolinaro | Twitter
Christian Bolanos | Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Photo: @HarJournalist | Twitter
Matias Laba | Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Photo: @InsideSportsTD | Twitter
Goalkeepers Clement Diop, Brian Rowe, Jon Kempin | All LA Galaxy
Photo: @fanly_galaxy | Twitter
Coy Craft | FC Dallas
Photo: @ElEnergyFC | Twitter
Charlie Davies | Philadelphia Union
Photo: @TransferLive5 | Twitter
OUT OF CONTRACT
Kyle Beckerman | Real Salt Lake
Photo: @RealSaltLake | Twitter
Nick Rimando | Real Salt Lake
Photo: @HailMaryTD | Twitter
Ashley Cole | LA Galaxy
Photo: @fanly_galaxy | Twitter
Fredy Montero | Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Photo: @futbolMLS | Twitter
Chris Pontius | Philadelphia Union
Photo: @ChuckBoothSport | Twitter
Teal Bunbury | New England Revolution
Photo: @SKCmatchday | Twitter
Erik Palmer-Brown | Sporting Kansas City
Photo: @kansasJayhawkBB | Twitter
Bill Hamid | DC United
Photo: @fre_tips | Twitter
Kaka | Orlando City
Photo: @JulioSheeeD | Twitter
David Bingham | San Jose Earthquakes
Photo: @StatesideSoccer | Twitter