Seattle Sounders exercise contract option on 11 players, decline 9 others

The Seattle Sounders announced Wednesday that the club exercised its contract options for 11 players while declining options on nine of their players, including Guatemalan international Marco Pappa.

Pappa is one of a number of key Sounders players who had their contract options declined, including defenders Zach Scott and Leo Gonzalez. They are joined by goalkeeper Troy Perkins, defender Andres Correa, midfielders Micheal Azira and Thomas, and forward Chad Barrett.

The Sounders exercised the contract option for 11 players: goalkeepers Stefan Frei and Charlie Lyon, defenders Chad Marshall, Tyrone Mears, Oniel Fisher, Damion Lowe, Jimmy Ockford, and Dylan Remick, midfielders Lamar Neagle and Aaron Kovar, and forward Vic Mansaray have all been kept on.

"In our league, keeping teams together is a consistent challenge under our roster restraints, and this season is no different," club general manager Garth Lagerwey said. "These types of decisions are never easy, and conversations with several players are ongoing. As we continue to shape our 2016 roster we'll have additional announcements to share in the weeks ahead."

Of particular note is the retention of Neagle, a player who has recently been linked with a trade to D.C. United, with Chris Pontius going the other way.