Sounders decline options on nine players

The Seattle Sounders have declined contract options on nine players from the 2015 roster, including Marco Pappa, Gonzalo Pineda, Chad Barrett, Leo Gonzalez and Zach Scott. The latter two have been with the club since their expansion season. Twenty-one players remain on the roster.

General manager Garth Lagerwey noted that some of the players whose contracts were declined could still return to the club, presumably at lower salary. However, he also paused to thank the majority of these guys -- who truely proect as leaving the club -- for the service.

Lagerwey is expected to explain and expand on these moves this afternoon, and we’ll have more in new posts to come. Until then, here is the news release from the club:

Seattle Sounders FC today announced that it is exercising the 2016 contract options of 11 players, placing the club’s current roster heading into next season at 21 players.

The following players saw their options exercised for 2016: goalkeepers Stefan Frei and Charlie Lyon; defenders Oniel Fisher, Damion Lowe, Chad Marshall, Tyrone Mears, Jimmy Ockford and Dylan Remick; midfielders Aaron Kovar and Lamar Neagle; and forward Vic Mansaray.

10 players were already under contract for 2016, including defenders Brad Evans and Román Torres, midfielders Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg, Andreas Ivanschitz and Cristian Roldan, in addition to forwards Clint Dempsey, Darwin Jones, Obafemi Martins and Nelson Valdez.

Additionally, Sounders FC announced that it has declined the contract options of the following players: Micheal Azira, Chad Barrett, Andrés Correa, Leo Gonzalez, Marco Pappa, Troy Perkins, Gonzalo Pineda, Zach Scott and Thomás. Midfielder Andy Rose is currently out of contract for the 2016 season and has been offered a new agreement with the club, as has forward Andy Craven. Per Major League Soccer policy, the club has until Thursday, December 10 to re-sign Re-Entry Draft-eligible players, including those players whose contracts were not exercised.

“In our league, keeping teams together is a consistent challenge under our roster restraints, and this season is no different,” said Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey. “These types of decisions are never easy, and conversations with several players are ongoing. As we continue to shape our 2016 roster we’ll have additional announcements to share in the weeks ahead.”

Seattle’s current roster is listed below by positional breakdown.

CURRENT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS (2): Stefan Frei, Charlie Lyon

DEFENDERS (8): Brad Evans, Oniel Fisher, Damion Lowe, Chad Marshall, Tyrone Mears, Jimmy Ockford, Dylan Remick, Román Torres

MIDFIELDERS (6): Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg, Andreas Ivanschitz, Aaron Kovar, Lamar Neagle,

FORWARDS (5): Clint Dempsey, Darwin Jones, Vic Mansaray, Obafemi Martins, Nelson Valdez

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 1:26 PM with the headline "Sounders decline options on nine players."