PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced that the club has exercised the 2014 contract options on nine players.
Additionally, two players’ contract options were declined, two players were waived and six players from the club’s 2013 roster are out of contract.
“At the end of every season, we are faced with many decisions as we look at the roster,” said Gavin Wilkinson, Timbers general manager. “There are always difficult decisions to be made, based on salary cap and the direction of the club. As we look to 2014, we have a solid core of players in place and, with that continuity, look forward to further shaping the roster ahead of the upcoming season.”
The Timbers have picked up the 2014 contract options on midfielders Will Johnson, Michael Nanchoff, Rodney Wallace and Ben Zemanski; defenders Futty Danso, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Pa Modou Kah and Rauwshan McKenzie; and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.
Twelve players are already under contract for the 2014 season: goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts; defenders Michael Harrington, Jack Jewsbury, Alvas Powell and Mikael Silvestre; midfielders Kalif Alhassan, Diego Chara, Steven Evans, Darlington Nagbe and Diego Valeri; and forwards Maximiliano Urruti and Jose Valencia.
Alhassan, Chara, Nagbe and Ricketts were all re-signed to new, multiyear contracts during the 2013 season. In the case of Valeri, the Timbers purchased his contract from Argentina’s Club Atlético Lanús in August and he was re-signed to a new multiyear deal after originally joining Portland on loan. Powell continues his loan from Jamaican club Portmore United FC.
The Timbers have extended bona fide offers to forward Ryan Johnson, goalkeeper Milos Kocic and midfielders Brad Ring and Sal Zizzo. The club is in contract discussions with forwards Frederic Piquionne and Sebastián Rincón, and retains their MLS rights. All six players are currently out of contract.
The Timbers declined the 2014 contract options on defenders David Horst and Ryan Miller. Both Horst and Miller are eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft.
Additionally, defender Dylan Tucker-Gangnes and forward Brent Richards were waived.
“We want to thank David, Brent, Ryan and Dylan for their service to the club and for being great ambassadors in the community; all four are first-class,” said Wilkinson. “David’s dedication to the club over the last three years, both in the locker room and in his outstanding efforts in the community, is greatly appreciated. We wish him and the others all the best.”
The Timbers’ 2014 roster currently includes the following players:
Goalkeepers: Jake Gleeson, Donovan Ricketts
Defenders: Futty Danso, Michael Harrington, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Jack Jewsbury, Pa Modou Kah, Rauwshan McKenzie, Alvas Powell, Mikael Silvestre
Midfielders: Kalif Alhassan, Diego Chara, Steven Evans, Will Johnson, Darlington Nagbe, Michael Nanchoff, Diego Valeri, Rodney Wallace, Ben Zemanski
Forwards: Maximiliano Urruti, Jose Valencia
