CARSON, CA (November 27, 2017) – The LA Galaxy have announced off-season contract option decisions. The club declined options on thirteen players. They now have just 13 of 30 MLS roster spots filled and no goalkeepers on their roster.
Times Are Changing: LA Galaxy Decline Options on Thirteen Players For 2018
NEWS: #LAGalaxy exercise 2018 contract options on five players: https://t.co/WPLdznyfEq pic.twitter.com/pttu21O7ty
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) November 27, 2017
The Galaxy exercised options on five players: midfielder Emmanuel Boateng, forward Bradford Jamieson IV, defender Daniel Steres, defender Dave Romney and forward Ariel Lassiter. The following players did not have their options picked up: midfielder Jermaine Jones, goalkeeper Jon Kempin, midfielder Rafael Garcia, goalkeeper Brian Rowe, forward Jose Villarreal, forward Jack McBean, midfielder Raul Mendiola, defender Pele Van Anholt, goalkeeper Clement Diop, midfielder Jaime Villarreal, defender Nathan Smith and defender Bradley Diallo.
Defender Ashley Cole and midfielder Baggio Husidic are out of contract at the end of the year. Defender Robbie Rogers has officially retired and thus is not on the roster.
With that, the current roster per Major League Soccer is:
GK (0):
DEF (4): Hugo Arellano (HG), Michael Ciani (INT’L), Dave Romney, Daniel Steres
MID (4): Romain Alessandrini (DP, INT’L), Jonathan dos Santos (DP, INT’L), Sebastian Lletget, Joao Pedro (INT’L)
FWD (5): Emmanuel Boateng (INT’L), Giovani dos Santos (DP, INT’L), Bradford Jamieson IV (HG), Ariel Lassiter, Gyasi Zardes (HG)
What It Means:
This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who paid attention to the changes once Head Coach Sigi Schmid came in. The youth movement failed in 2017 and the Galaxy are now cutting bait with most players from that first Homegrown generation who can’t contribute at the MLS level consistently.
Only Gyasi Zardes, Hugo Arellano, and Bradford Jamieson IV are the only HG players currently on the roster.
The other significant change is the club cutting bait with all three goalkeepers. They’ll have a number of replacement options as they look to sure up play between the pipes.
The players who were not retained aren’t necessarily gone for sure. The Galaxy could look to bring them back under new contract conditions. They could look to retain a few HG players on USL level contracts. We’ll have to see where these players stand. Jack McBean and Jose Villarreal should have some interest at the MLS and USL level outside of the StubHub Center.
Lastly, the future of Cole and Husidic are up in the air. Both are on the wrong side of 30-years-old. Husidic was injured for the back half of the season. Schmid could be looking to bring either back to provide veteran leadership and roster depth.
