Off-Season Officially Begins This Week As Real Salt Lake Looks To Bolster Roster

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake is expecting a busy week with multiple off-season events upcoming, starting this afternoon with the Austin FC Expansion Draft and ending with Stage 1 of the Re-Entry Process.

Austin FC Expansion Draft

This afternoon, starting at 4 p.m. the MLS is conducting its 11th Expansion Draft and RSL has eight players that are up for adoption if Austin FC wants them.

Goalkeepers Zac McMath and Andrew Putna; defenders Alvin Jones, Ashtone Morgan, Nedum Onuoha (retired); midfielders Luke Mulholland, Justin Portillo; and forward Giuseppe Rossi.

The 2020 @MLS Expansion Draft is tomorrow

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) December 14, 2020

End Of Year Waivers

On Wednesday, December 16th, starting at 11 a.m. end of year waivers become available for clubs.

The process gives the clubs that finished at the bottom of the 2020 standings the first opportunities to select from out-of-contract, typically young players who have not met the minimum number of service years for Free Agency or the Re-Entry Process.

Beginning in reverse order, and taking into account postseason performance, FC Cincinnati will select first. The 2020 MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew SC will have the 26th pick, and expansion club Austin FC will have the 27th selection to end each round.

Arriaga and Vazquez are eligible for the Waiver Draft.

Free Agency

Immediately following the End-of-Year Waivers process, Free Agency also will open on Dec. 16 for players who are at least age 24 with at least five MLS service years and either option-declined or out-of-contract.

Free Agents can negotiate a new contract with any MLS club, including their previous team, subject to certain restrictions. There is no limit on the number of Free Agents a team may sign each year.

Beckerman and Mulholland are eligible for Free Agency.

Re-Entry Process

The Re-Entry Process, Stage 1 begins on Thursday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. MT. Similar to the End-of-Year Waivers process, the Re-Entry process is conducted in the reverse order of the 2020 season finish, keeping in mind postseason performance and any trades impacting selection order.

Snow day ⛄️ pic.twitter.com/DupnnBZG2z

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) December 14, 2020

During the Re-Entry process, MLS clubs can select from option-declined players who are at least 22 years old with a minimum of one service year.

Jones, Onuoha, and Rossi are eligible for the Re-Entry Draft.

The final postseason roster mechanism will be Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Process which will be conducted on Tuesday, Dec. 22. The list of players eligible for Re-Entry, Stage 2 will be announced on Dec. 22 at 9 a.m. MT.