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
