Real Salt Lake Finalizes Initial 2020 Roster Decisions, Has 7 Spots Left To Fill

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake exercised it’s initial 2020 roster moves as they look to continue to climb up the Western Conference in 2020.

#RSL Announces 2020 Roster Decisions

➡️ https://t.co/E73k4gdYgl pic.twitter.com/F7REwUDXQq

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) November 21, 2019

Contract Options Picked Up

RSL exercised the contract options on 11 players from its 2019 roster, meaning they will remain with RSL in 2020.

Goalkeeper Andrew Putna; defenders Justen Glad and Erik Holt; midfielders Everton Luiz, Nick Besler, Justin Portillo; and forwards Corey Baird, Jefferson Savarino, Brooks Lennon, Douglas Martinez, and Tate Schmitt will be back at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Contract Options Declines

However, four players have had their contract options declined. Defenders Marcelo Silva and Danilo Acosta; midfielder Luke Mulholland and forward Joao Plata are now out of contract with the club. The reasons behind the decision are not yet known.

Silva and Plata were making roughly $700K and $800K respectively. Way too much money considering they were both bench players in 2019 and not starters.

Acosta was on loan with Orlando City, the news regarding his option being declined comes as no surprise.

Mulholland has had a hard time seeing the pitch over the last two seasons. Back injuries have sidelined the veteran Englishmen who ended the 2019 season playing and winning for the Real Monarchs.

Out Of Contract

Defender Donny Toia; midfielders Kyle Beckerman and Kelyn Rowe; and forward Sebastian Saucedo are out of contract.

“Conversations about returning to the roster in 2020 are ongoing with a number of players,” RSL announced.

Could we see captain Kyle Beckerman back for his 18th season in Major League Soccer? It certainly sounds like a real possibility.

Retired

Goalkeepers Nick Rimando and Alex Horwath; defender Tony Beltran; and forward Jordan Allen have all announced their retirement from playing soccer.

Beltran was announced by owner Dell Loy Hansen as the latest addition to the front office, starting January 1, 2020, Beltran will begin a new chapter at the club as the Assistant General Manager.

The boss is making the media rounds on behalf of the champs 🏆

First stop Doug Wright & @kslnewsradio pic.twitter.com/1IeuBDvSsZ

— Real Monarchs (@RealMonarchs) November 19, 2019

Promoted

Forward Maikel Chang has been signed by RSL from the Monarchs. Chang becomes the ninth player to make the jump to RSL after first signing with the Monarchs.

“Adding Maikel to the roster is very exciting because it further solidifies the growth initiatives within the club,” Executive Vice President Rob Zarkos said. “Maikel has shown his pedigree for years in the USL Championship and we feel that now is a good time for him to contribute on the MLS level.”

Chang is the USL Championship’s all-time assists leader after amassing 39 assists since 2014. He also became the first player in the league’s modern era to reach 30 career assists.

#RSL has signed Maikel Chang, the @USLChampionship's all-time leader in assists from @RealMonarchs

Welcome, @maikel_chang 👏

📝 https://t.co/2KFTWcd5tq pic.twitter.com/zc9YOXkwjU

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) November 21, 2019

Current Roster

MLS clubs are given 28 players to fill their first-team roster, the announcement gives RSL 21 players on its current roster, with 7 spots left to fill.

Goalkeepers: David Ochoa and Andrew Putna.

Defenders: Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera, Erik Holt, and Nedum Onuoha.

Midfielders: Luis Arriaga, Nick Besler, Damir Kreilach, Everton Luiz, Justin Portillo, Pablo Ruiz, and Albert Rusnak.

Forwards: Corey Baird, Maikel Chang, Sam Johnson, Brooks Lennon, Douglas Martinez, Jefferson Savarino, Tate Schmitt, and Julian Vasquez.