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After this morning's blitz of player acquisition news, the Portland Timbers' roster is in a state of upheaval. With players coming in, players going out, and a few whose futures remain uncertain, it can be difficult to keep track of who will be in Portland come preseason.
Here is a quick rundown of the Timbers' roster to help clear things up.
Fanendo Adi, under contract for 2015
Kalif Alhassan, option declined, eligible for the Re-entry Draft
Alhassan could potentially sign with T2, but it seems far more likely that he will be picked up by a team in the Re-entry Draft, the first round of which comes on Friday. If he did sign directly with T2, Alhassan could prove an interesting test case for how the interactions between MLS teams and their USL Pro sides are governed.
Dairon Asprilla, new signing, under contract for 2015
Nat Borchers, new signing, under contract for 2015
Diego Chara, under contract for 2015
Steven Evans, option declined, signed with T2
Because he was not eligible for the Re-entry draft, there was presumably no barrier to Evans signing immediately with T2 and becoming the Timbers' first USL Pro player in their second go-around with the league.
Gaston Fernandez, out of contract, in negotiations with team
Fernandez seems to have the leverage here with Valeri out for the beginning of the season, but it is hard to say how far apart the two parties might be when it comes to bringing him back.
George Fochive, option picked up, under contract for 2015
Bryan Gallego, option declined, free agent
Gallego, like Evans, could sign directly for T2, an outcome that may still be in the cards. Still, Gallego seemed to be a big player for Arizona United during his time there last season before missing a significant amount of time due to an injury.
Jake Gleeson, option picked up, under contract for 2015
Michael Harrington, traded to Colorado Rapids
Jeanderson, new signing, under contract for 2015
Jack Jewsbury, under contract for 2015
Will Johnson, under contract for 2015
Pa Modou Kah, option declined, free agent
Adam Kwarasey, new signing, under contract for 2015
Rauwshan McKenzie, out of contract, eligible for Re-entry Draft
Darlington Nagbe, under contract for 2015
Michael Nanchoff, option picked up, under contract for 2015
Danny O'Rourke, out of contract, eligible for Re-entry Draft
With Kah, McKenzie, and O'Rourke all on their way out, the Timbers will almost certainly be looking for further backup at the centerback spot. The current depth chart of Ridgewell, Borchers, Paparatto, and Peay is about two players short of what the Timbers have burned through in almost every year since joining MLS.
Noberto Paparatto, under contract for 2015
Taylor Peay, option picked up, under contract for 2015
Alvas Powell, option to purchase exercised, under contract for 2015
Donovan Ricketts, under contract for 2015
With four keepers on the roster, Ricketts looks like the clear odd man out after the Timbers picked up the options on both Gleeson and Weber, and signed Kwarasey. There is still plenty of time for things to change during the offseason, but it looks like the writing is on the wall for the Iron Lion.
Liam Ridgewell, under contract for 2015
Schillo Tshuma, under contract for 2015
Maximiliano Urruti, under contract for 2015
Jose Adolfo Valencia, sold to Club Olimpo
Valencia has been playing with in Argentina with Olimpo for the better part of a year now but it is not entirely clear when his transfer was finalized for the purposes of MLS. What is clear is that the transfer fee was seven figures, of which a good sum should go to the Timbers as allocation money and was likely used to fund some of the incoming transfers announced today. Also of note: the Timbers will retain the rights to Valencia in MLS.
Diego Valeri, under contract for 2015
Jorge Villafana, signed a new contract
Villafana may have some competition on the left from newcomer Jeanderson, but signing a new contract with the team is a good sign for the fullback, especially with his counterpart from the other flank, Powell, now back with the team for the long-term.
Rodney Wallace, option picked up, under contract for 2015
Andrew Weber, option picked up, under contract for 2015
Ben Zemanski, option picked up, under contract for 2015
The Timbers' press release:
TIMBERS EXERCISE OPTIONS ON SEVEN PLAYERS
Club declines contract options for four players, two out of contract
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers have exercised the 2015 contract options on seven players, it was announced today.
Players who were already under contract for the 2015 season are: goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts; defenders Jack Jewsbury, Norberto Paparatto and Liam Ridgewell; midfielders Diego Chara, Will Johnson, Darlington Nagbe and Diego Valeri; and forwards Fanendo Adi, Schillo Tshuma and Maximiliano Urruti.
The Timbers have picked up the 2015 contract options on midfielders George Fochive, Michael Nanchoff, Rodney Wallace and Ben Zemanski, defender Taylor Peay and goalkeepers Jake Gleeson and Andrew Weber.
Additionally, the Timbers exercised the purchase option on defender Alvas Powell’s contract from Jamaica’s Portmore United and he was signed to a new, long-term deal after originally joining Portland on loan in 2013. Defender Jorge Villafaña, who was out of contract, was also re-signed by the Timbers.
The Timbers are in further contract discussions with forward Gastón Fernández.
Four players’ contract options were declined and two players from the club’s 2014 roster are out of contract.
The Timbers declined the 2015 contract options on midfielders Kalif Alhassan and Steven Evans, and defenders Bryan Gallego and Pa Modou Kah. Alhassan is eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Additionally, the club announced that forward Jose Valencia was sold to Argentina’s Club Olimpo Bahía Blanca, while Evans has signed a contract with T2.
Defenders Rauwshan McKenzie and Danny O’Rourke are out of contract and have not been extended bona fide offers. Both players will be eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft.