MLSPA Releases Free Agency List Following Conclusion Of Regular Season
Nov 11, 2021, 10:09 AM
Jackson Yueill #14 of San Jose Earthquakes tries to get the ball from Albert Rusnak #11 of Real Salt Lake at Earthquakes Stadium on October 28, 2020 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Major League Soccer Players Associated has provided the list of upcoming free agents throughout the league with a handful of Real Salt Lake players present.
Most notably, Real Salt Lake captain Albert Rusnák is out of contract at the end of the season. He is joined by winger Justin Meram. Furthermore, Donny Toia, Marcelo Silva, and Ashtone Morgan will have to wait on the club to determine if they will be involved in 2022 as they all have club options pending.
The free-agent list this year involves 127 players from across the league, a 149% increase from two years ago.
The list of players who are eligible for free agency entering the 2021-2022 offseason is now available.
There are currently 127 free-agency eligible players across MLS, a 149% increase from the same period two years earlier (2019-2020).
FULL LIST: https://t.co/RnvzaKhGXm pic.twitter.com/2pnLlV7SKA
— MLSPA (@MLSPA) November 11, 2021
Real Salt Lake General Manager Elliot Fall has publicly stated that he is working alongside Rusnák’s team to get a new deal done ahead of next season. Fall would love for Rusnák to re-sign under new terms. The biggest question that remains for Real Salt Lake fans is if Rusnák will be a designated player in 2022 for Real Salt Lake or if he will accept an allocation money caliber contract.
Meram’s future is uncertain given his age. The 32-year-old recently retired from international football, suggesting that his playing career could be coming to an end. However, Meram has played a pivotal role as of late and is largely responsible for Real Salt Lake qualifying for the post-season.
RELATED STORIES
His ability to come off the bench and spark the group throughout the final portion of games may well have earned Meram a new short-term contract.
Morgan, Toia, and Silva will all wait on the club to determine their immediate future. Morgan and Toia’s playing time has significantly lapsed over recent months while Silva has contributed when healthy, however, Silva has struggled with multiple muscle injuries over the years and at 32 years of age, the club will determine whether he is capable of continuing to play at the MLS level.
Other names of interest on the list include SKC’s Roger Espinoza and Graham Zusi, Portland’s Steve Clark and Sebastian Blanco, Minnesota’s Ethan Finlay, among others.
Playoff Info
Real Salt Lake will travel to Seattle for a date with the Sounders in the first round of the playoffs on November 23rd. Kickoff time is slated for 8:30 p.m. and will be broadcast via FS1.
Seattle concluded the regular season in the second-seed in the western conference while Real Salt Lake waited until the final seconds of their match against Sporting Kansas City to secure a 1-0 victory and earn the seventh seed as a result.
