The Major League Soccer offseason calendar stops for no team’s championship celebrations.
With protected player lists due out later this afternoon for Tuesday’s Expansion Draft, the Sounders announced Monday morning the club’s decision to decline the contract options of 13 players — including veterans Nelson Valdez, Andreas Ivanschitz, Erik Friberg and Tyrone Mears, all of whom played sizable roles in the team’s run to its first MLS Cup.
It’s worth noting that some of that group will likely be back in 2017. Zach Scott, who retired on top in the wake of the team’s triumph in Toronto on Sunday, had his contract declined last season but ended up back on the roster by training camp.