This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Real Salt Lake's offseason unveiled another stage of change Wednesday. The club announced it exercised the 2017 contract options of five players, while declining options on seven players prior to next season.
RSL exercised options on defenders Justen Glad, Chris Schuler and Demar Phillips, all of whom were starters on the RSL back line the final weeks of the 2016 regular season. Also returning are backup goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez and forward Ricardo Velazco, who was signed in September after spending nearly two seasons with Real Monarchs.
The franchise declined 2017 options on forwards Olmes Garcia and Emery Welshman, as well as defenders Boyd Okwuonu and Phanuel Kavita. Midfielder John Stertzer also had his option declined. Striker Pedro Baez, a midseason loan arrival from Cerro Porteno in Paraguay, will return to his club after the loan deal expired.
RSL general manager Craig Waibel told the Tribune on Wednesday that he is open to the possibility of some players returning despite having their options declined. Last offseason, RSL re-signed Phillips and Kavita, a product of Highland High School, after initially not exercising their team options.
"It's possible, and there's certainly one or two conversations that I've had that could lead to that," he said.
Garcia's likely departure comes after the Colombian striker, still only 24, saw his production level drastically drop off from his rookie campaign of five goals and four assists in 2013. Garcia scored just six goals in his final 80 regular-season appearances at RSL.
RSL also officially announced it did not pick up options on midfielder Javier Morales and defender Jamison Olave, who leave the club with a combined 17 seasons in Utah. Both veterans announced in recent weeks they wouldn't be returning to RSL.
Center back Aaron Maund remains out-of-contract ahead of next year. The 26-year-old defender has started 41 regular-season games the last two seasons, but suffered a season-ending foot fracture in August. Defender Chris Wingert and forward Devon Sandoval, who spent much of 2016 on loan to Rayo OKC in the NASL, are also out-of-contract.
Waibel reiterated that negotiations with Maund are ongoing and are close to the final stages.
"I'd say we're very close to having a decision made," Waibel said. "From a club perspective, we're clearly interested in having him back. And I know Aaron's interested in being here."
RSL remains in further talks to extend Glad, the 19-year-old center back who started 27 regular-season games in his third year with the club, beyond 2017. Waibel confirmed that Glad still has two years left on his current contract.
"I've been in discussions with Justen's representatives and we're trying to see if we can get some traction and get to a good middle ground to signing him to a longer-term deal," Waibel said.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
RSL roster moves
Club declines 2017 options on:
• Forward Olmes Garcia: Signed with RSL in 2013, had 11 goals in 104 appearances
• Forward Emery Welshman: Signed with RSL in 2016 after spending 2015 with Real Monarchs
• Midfielder: John Stertzer: Selected 12th in 2013 MLS SuperDraft, 1 goal and 1 assist in 48 appearances
• Defender Phanuel Kavita: Highland High product signed with RSL in 2015, three appearances in two years
• Defender Body Okwuonu: Second-round draft pick in 2015 MLS SuperDraft, five appearances in two years
• Javier Morales: Announced on Nov. 10 he wouldn't be returning to RSL after 10 seasons
• Jamison Olave: Announced on Nov. 14 he wouldn't be returning to RSL after seven seasons
Club exercises 2017 options on:
• Defender Justen Glad
• Defender Chris Schuler
• Defender Demar Phillips
• Goalkeeper Lalo Fernandez
• Forward Ricardo Velazco
Current RSL roster
Goalkeepers: Jeff Attinella, Lalo Fernandez, Nick Rimando. Defenders: Danilo Acosta, Tony Beltran, Justen Glad, Demar Phillips, Chris Schuler. Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman, Omar Holness, Luke Mulholland, Sunny Stephen. Forwards: Jordan Allen, Juan Manuel Martinez, Yura Movsisyan, Joao Plata, Ricardo Velazco