As the 2015 MLS season drew to a close on Sunday, preparations for 2016 were already well underway on Monday.
MLS Cup champions Portland Timbers announced on Monday that the team has re-signed midfielder Jack Jewsbury and exercised the 2016 contract options on midfielder George Fochive, defenders Anthony Manning, Taylor Peay and forward Michael Seaton.
Players who are already under contract for the 2016 season are: goalkeepers Adam Kwarasey and Jake Gleeson; forwards Fanendo Adi and Lucas Melano; midfielders Dairon Asprilla, Diego Chara, Darlington Nagbe, Will Johnson and Diego Valeri; and defenders Nat Borchers, Liam Ridgewell, Alvas Powell and Jorge Villafaña.
The Timbers declined the 2016 contract options on goalkeeper Andrew Weber; defenders Jeanderson, Norberto Paparatto and Andy Thoma; midfielders Nick Besler and Michael Nanchoff; and forward Maximiliano Urruti.
“We are still in discussions with a number of players whose contract options were declined," said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager of the Timbers, in a team statement.
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Midfielders Ben Zemanski and Rodney Wallace are out of contract and have been extended bona fide offers.
Columbus Crew SC announced on Monday that the core of the side that reached Sunday's MLS Cupis set to return in 2016, exercising the contract options on 11 players from its 2015 roster. Ten others were already under contract for next season, giving the club a roster that currently features 21 players.
The club picked-up the options of goalkeeper Brad Stuver; defenders Harrison Afful, Chad Barson, Sergio Campbell, Waylon Francis, Chris Klute and Michael Parkhurst; and midfielders Romain Gall, Hector Jimenez, Justin Meram and Wil Trapp.
Columbus also announced that they have declined the contract options of defender Emanuel Pogatetz and midfielder Kristinn Steindorsson. Midfielder Ben Speas and goalkeeper Matt Lampson are out of contract. Pogatetz, Speas and Steindorsson are eligible for the MLS Waiver Draft, while Lampson is eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Process.
Midfielder Kevan George and forwards Jack McInerney and Aaron Schoenfeld are out of contract; Crew SC is currently in discussions with those three players.
- Check out more Crew SC news at ColumbusCrewSC.com
“2016 preparations are underway and our aim is to keep the core group of the team together while being in position to make additional roster improvements for next season,” said head coach Gregg Berhalter in a team statement. “While decisions to part with players are never easy, we’d like to thank all the players for their contributions throughout the year.”
Meanwhile, the LA Galaxy also announced the club’s roster options ahead of the 2016 season on Monday. The Galaxy will not exercise contract options on forwards Edson Buddle and Charlie Rugg, defender Tommy Meyer, goalkeepers Brian Perk, Donovan Ricketts and Andrew Wolverton, and midfielders Mika Vayrynen and Kenney Walker.
The following players remain under contract with the LA Galaxy: A.J. DeLaGarza, Giovani dos Santos, Rafael Garcia, Dan Gargan, Steven Gerrard, Juninho, Omar Gonzalez, Baggio Husidic, Bradford Jamieson IV, Robbie Keane, Leonardo, Sebastian Lletget, Ignacio Maganto, Raul Mendiola, Robbie Rogers, Dave Romney, Brian Rowe, Oscar Sorto, Jose Villarreal, Gyasi Zardes.
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Forward Alan Gordon is currently out of contract.
In addition, Montreal Impact announced on Monday that the club exercised options on 10 players and re-signed two players to new deals, bringing its total to 23 players under contract for the 2016 season.
"We are very pleased to confirm that our club will be able to count on the core and depth that brought us a lot of success in 2015," said Impact technical director Adam Braz in a team statement. "We are nonetheless continuously looking to improve our roster."
The club exercised options on goalkeepers Evan Bush, Eric Kronberg and Maxime Crépeau, defenders Donny Toia, Wandrille Lefèvre and Eric Miller, midfielders Kyle Bekker, Eric Alexander and Maxim Tissot, as well as forward Anthony Jackson-Hamel.
Midfielder Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé and forward Dominic Oduro have also signed new deals with the club.
- Want more Montreal news? Head to ImpactMontreal.com
Forward Cameron Porter is currently out of contract, but the club is in advanced talks to bring him back next season.
The Impact have declined the options on defender Hassoun Camara and forward Kenny Cooper.
