Seattle Sounders FC roster

2015 record: 15-13-6, fourth in the Western Conference. Returning nine starters.

* Projected starters in bold

The skinny: Stefan Frei grew into one of the best keepers in MLS. Building nicely on the potential the club saw in him when acquired in 2014, Frei was selected team defensive player of the year. He finished third in MLS with 111 saves, a Sounders record. He already ranks second on the club’s career list with 34 wins, 210 saves and 19 shutouts.

Backups: After a run of going with veteran backups — Troy Perkins last season, Marcus Hahnemann before that — the Sounders are going with fully unproven youth. No. 2 Miller and No. 3 Lyon are both second-year players with no MLS experience. The club would probably be happy if they don’t get much experience this season either, but expresses confidence in each.

The skinny: No team in MLS allowed fewer goals than the Sounders in 2015. Three of the four starting defenders from that group return — Mears, Evans and Marshall — while newcomer Joevin Jones rates as an upgrade over any 2015 choices at left back. There is expected to be a decision — the kind coaches like — come summer when Torres is scheduled to return from a knee injury suffered in September.

Backups: Last preseason, the Sounders were hoping for the emergence of young centerbacks such as Jimmy Ockford and Damion Lowe. Now both have been loaned out to learn elsewhere. That leaves other guys who similarly haven’t seized much yet — Fisher and Remick — along with 35-year-old Scott.

The skinny: The shift to a 4-3-3 helps the club absorb the departures of Marco Pappa and Gonzalo Pineda. Alonso, Friberg and Ivanschitz — all over 30 — have retained starting roles in the new formation. Fears from last season that Alonso was on the decline have ebbed with solid preseason performances. Ivanschitz is becoming something close to essential.

Backups: Younger returning players such as Kovar and Roldan had regular roles off the bench in preseason. The club also brought in midcareer veterans Farfan — who plays more of an attacking role — and Sturgis — who is more defensive.

The skinny: Dempsey, Morris and Valdez form a forward combination that should be the envy of just about any team in MLS. On the other hand, there is a huge and likely unfillable gap where Obafemi Martins used to be.

Backups: Not one of the young reserve forward have scored an MLS goal. However, Jones produced goals in preseason, seeming comfortable off the wing. The club had hopes for Craven last season before he was lost to injury, and similar hopes have been attached to Anderson this year. Heading into his second season, Mansaray remains the youngest of the young reserves.

This story was originally published March 5, 2016 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Seattle Sounders FC roster."