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

Darren Mattocks | Portland Timbers

Dillon Powers | Orlando City

Mike Grella | New York Red Bulls

David Ousted | Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Christian Bolanos | Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Matias Laba | Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Goalkeepers Clement Diop, Brian Rowe, Jon Kempin | All LA Galaxy

Coy Craft | FC Dallas

Charlie Davies | Philadelphia Union

OUT OF CONTRACT
Kyle Beckerman | Real Salt Lake

Nick Rimando | Real Salt Lake

Ashley Cole | LA Galaxy

Fredy Montero | Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Chris Pontius | Philadelphia Union

Teal Bunbury | New England Revolution

Erik Palmer-Brown | Sporting Kansas City

Bill Hamid | DC United

Kaka | Orlando City

David Bingham | San Jose Earthquakes
