The MLS offseason shuffle continued on Monday, as several clubs announced roster decisions for 2016.
The Chicago Fire were particularly active, as the club elected to exercise options on midfielders Kingsley Bryce, Matt Polster and Harry Shipp and defender Patrick Doody, and declined options on nine players: Adailton, Jon Busch, Razvan Cocis, Greg Cochrane, Jason Johnson, Alec Kann, Jeff Larentowicz, Lovel Palmer and Chris Ritter. Chicago also confirmed that their loan deal for Daneil Cyrus has expired. Ty Harden, former MLS MVP Mike Magee and Matt Watson are out of contract.
Busch, Larentowicz, Magee and Harden will be eligible for the league's new free agency policy, while Palmer and Watson are eligible to participate in the Re-Entry process.
Real Salt Lake have exercised 2016 options on seven players: goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez; defenders Abdoulie Mansally and Boyd Okwuonu, midfielders Luke Mulholland and John Stertzer and forwards Olmes Garcia and Devon Sandoval. RSL also announced that veteran defender Jamison Olave has signed a new contract, while playmaker Javier Morales signed a new deal last week.
Salt Lake did not exercise options for defenders Phanuel Kavita, Demar Phillips and Elias Vasquez and midfielder Pecka. Defender Chris Schuler and midfielders Luis Gil and Luis Silva are currently out of contract for the 2016 season.
The Houston Dynamo have declined contract options on goalkeeper Michael Lisch, defenders AJ Cochran and Jermaine Taylor, midfielders Luis Garrido, Alexander Lopez and Nathan Sturgis and forward Chandler Hoffman.
The clubs have until Thursday, Dec. 10 to re-sign any Re-Entry Draft eligible players, including players whose options were not exercised. The MLS Waiver Draft takes place on Dec. 9, followed by Stage One of the Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 11 and Stage Two on Dec. 17.
Click here for full MLS roster rules and regulations, including Free Agency, Waiver and Re-Entry Draft eligibility.
