Sporting KC
Reader Poll: Who Should Sporting KC Re-Sign and Release this Offseason?
Sporting Kansas City have 16 players they need to make decisions on now that the season is over. Who should stay and who should go?
We’ve entered an uncertain time in Sporting Kansas City’s 2024-25 MLS offseason. The team is currently weighing their options on what to do with their roster. Peter Vermes has said they won’t rush the process, and they technically have until November 27th to make their announcements. But they could make the moves any moment. Will it be three more weeks or tomorrow?
Since we can’t know, it is fun to speculate. We’ve done it on our podcasts, For the Glory KC and Shades of Blue. And there are more members of the Kansas City Soccer Journal that will weigh in soon. In the meantime, what would you do with the roster?
16 Decisions
While there are a lot of players fans would like to kick to the curb, only 16 players can easily be moved on from. Yes, technically the team can transfer or trade anyone else on their roster or use their one-time buyout on someone with a guaranteed contract beyond. But primarily, it’s the four players out of contract and the 12 others on options that we’ll likely hear decisions on very soon.
Surely you want to make an informed decision, so here are a few links to aid you in that decision:
- All contract situations for Sporting KC
- Final 2024 Sporting KC salaries
- Sporting KC’s FBref page
- American Soccer Analysis’ Interactive Tables
With the salaries, there is the caveat of we don’t know what number is attached to the option year of players. There may be reductions or raises built into the structure of their deals.
VOTE BELOW
Now it’s time for you to weigh in. Feel free to leave a comment to make your case for or against players.
You’ll notice we only included the “re-sign at a reduced salary” option on the three players where that feels plausible. Remi Walter is in his prime and likely wouldn’t take a pay cut. The same is likely true for declining Erik Thommy’s option and trying to bring him back on a lower number. Whereas Russell, Melia and Fontas are at the tail end of their careers and may stay for less (if you want them).
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This felt cathartic.
When do we get to see the results?
I’ve written the story, coming very soon!
Cull. Hard and without sympathy. If you need to pick up 1 year options to make a roster, fine. But long-term contracts to players in their 30s for a team in a rebuild ought to be a firing offense.
So much this…you know PV loves the old guard though. I’m willing to bet that SKC still has one of the top 5 oldest starting 11 in MLS in 2025. Yeah, I’m being pessimistic…I just don’t see PV magically giving the young players a real shot. I hope he proves me wrong.