Sounders Decline Options On Nate Jaqua, Pat Noonan and Taylor Graham

by Dave Clark on Nov 30, 2011 8:31 AM PST in Sounders: News

Nate Jaqua will no longer be double teamed while wearing a Sounders kit.

As the Seattle Sounders retool for a run at multiple Cups in 2012 they declined options on Forwards Nate Jaqua and Pat Noonan, as well as Centerback Taylor Graham. They also declined the option on the retiring Terry Boss. Each player is between 30 and 31 years old and occupied senior roster slots. The total salary budget space opened up is just under $300,000 dollars which should help the team further supplement the backline in that rebuilding project. All four will be available in the Re-Entry Draft. Up until December 2nd they can renegotiate with the Sounders, but if no deal is reached can be picked up by another MLS team at their option price for 2012 in Phase One on December 5th. Phase Two (12 Dec.) of the Re-Entry Draft allows an acquiring team to sign the player at any negotiated price. After Phase Two they would be free agents.

Nate Jaqua is the most significant loss. In 2009 he was a key to a decent offense with 9 goals and 7 assists. After an injury plagued 2010 his production over the past two years fell off to just 8 goals and 12 assists in all competitions , though he did win the 2010 Player of the US Open Cup. At 30 years old he likely is a role player who could succeed in some late game situations thereby being a Phase Two pick if at all.

Noonan is also in his decline phase. Similar to Jaqua, his career is long enough to be on the top MLS goal scoring list, but in Seattle was used more as a possession forward also spending time in the midfield. The 31 year old is at a low number and a team that wants a veteran presence to control the pace of the game may think that the now healthy Pat Noonan can help them.

Taylor Graham has a long history with the Seattle Sounders organization playing three seasons in both the USL and MLS version of the team. While never a featured player he also gathered seven years of MLS service. He also has 3 CAPS for Puerto Rico. Graham's playing time declined over the past two seasons with only 90 competitive minutes in 2011. At 31 his next steps are hard to guess. Losing him leaves Seattle with only two remaining USL players on the team.

In light of these moves the team continues to shed some salary and some age. The late season addition of Sammy Ochoa and likely return of O'Brian White should give Seattle four options at forward who are all essentially the same age (Mike Fucito, Ochoa & White are 25; Fredy Montero is 24). The 1900 minutes opened up will be hotly contested in 2012.

Seattle currently has six open senior roster spots.

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Comments

Houston continues to baffle me

they protect Boswell over Ching, yet they pass of Boswells option putting him in the MLS re entry draft

by Sandra_R on Nov 30, 2011 8:36 AM PST reply actions

That's a mind boggling piece of roster mismanagement.

by ryanhealy on Nov 30, 2011 8:51 AM PST up reply actions

I'm sure it had something to so with the Dynamo FO...

…not thinking Montreal’s FO (who seem frighteningly good at this game already) would actually call Ching’s bluff about retiring.

FRIMPONG ought always be written in full caps #DEEEEEEENCH

by Kyle Ritter on Nov 30, 2011 8:56 AM PST up reply actions

*something to DO

FRIMPONG ought always be written in full caps #DEEEEEEENCH

by Kyle Ritter on Nov 30, 2011 8:56 AM PST up reply actions

But the question remains...

Why protect a guy whose option you intend to decline? Regardless of whether they thought Montreal was going to pass on Ching or not, you don’t protect players in an expansion draft that you plan on releasing one week later. Is there a financial incentive to declining an option that isn’t realized by losing a player in the expansion draft?

(I admit I could be embarrassingly misunderstanding the situation — I await correction by the almighty internet if I’m wrong about the facts.)

by ryanhealy on Nov 30, 2011 9:00 AM PST up reply actions

Possiblily they thought they could get some sort of trade for Boswell (which they probably could have got some value out of) in the time between the expansion draft and re-entry draft and failed.

by Kalani on Nov 30, 2011 9:28 AM PST up reply actions

My thought is...

they decline and pick him back up in round 2? I think that’s what LA did with Jovan Kirovski last season.

by chrisperry1983 on Nov 30, 2011 9:46 AM PST up reply actions

The only problem with that plan

is that by protecting him, they’re assuming Montreal would have used one of their 10 picks on him, yet they think every MLS team would pass on him in both rounds of the re-entry draft.

by Randy Meeker on Nov 30, 2011 2:20 PM PST up reply actions

Because they probably still WANT Boswell

But not at the price they are paying him now.

by Agent_J on Nov 30, 2011 10:35 AM PST up reply actions

This sounds like it could be another failure on the FO's part

I bet he gets picked up before Dynamo have a chance in round 2.

by chrisperry1983 on Nov 30, 2011 11:40 AM PST up reply actions

They have till Friday

to resign him before anyone else gets a shot at him.

Recessionproof since 2009.

by 253Sounder on Nov 30, 2011 11:48 AM PST up reply actions

Ahh gotcha

I missed that part. I know a lot of teams are probably chomping at the bit to grab him.

by chrisperry1983 on Nov 30, 2011 12:20 PM PST up reply actions

Ching didnt really bluff

He said he would retire before he plays in Montreal. Montreal is not planning on keeping Ching, they are hoping to use him in a trade, possibly back to Houston like what happened with Sinovic

by RaveGreenForever on Dec 1, 2011 12:09 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

Could be looking to negotiate

Just because he is on re entry list now doesnt mean he will be on monday. They have until friday to negotiate a contract

by RaveGreenForever on Dec 1, 2011 12:11 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

I think...

This shows they didn’t really want Ching back in the first place… they wanted to go younger and couldn’t publicly say so, so they decided to make Montreal the bad guy…All the while saying whoa is me I can not believe they took him…Montreal doesn’t even want him they want Hainault anyways…

by antonioelucero on Nov 30, 2011 9:13 AM PST reply actions

I think

this is a very likely possibility. The outrage from the fans is being primarily directed at Montreal whereas it would have 100% directed at the Houston FO if they had dropped Ching. It made perfect sense to unload him one way or the other considering his cap hit and diminishing returns.

Recessionproof since 2009.

by 253Sounder on Nov 30, 2011 9:27 AM PST up reply actions

Ching brought a lot of it on himself

when he said he wouldn’t play for Montreal. That removed almost all of the risk for Montreal. They could pick him to get something from Houston, almost for free (just the cost of using a draft pick), because they won’t be on the hook for Ching’s 400k+ cap hit if Houston doesn’t give them anything and Ching actually does retire. It could blow up in their faces if Ching retires after the season starts, in which case Montreal should be on the hook for his salary for the entire season.

by Randy Meeker on Nov 30, 2011 2:24 PM PST up reply actions

Montreal cannot be on the hook for Ching's salary

Picking somebody in the expansion draft does not mean that you have to sign them.

by AAAA on Dec 1, 2011 6:57 AM PST up reply actions

Back on topic.

Best wishes to Noonan, Jaqua, and Graham. Results aside, you can’t question their effort. Of the three, I think Jaqua still has a lot to offer a team if given the minutes to do so. I hope if/when he returns to Century Link with another team he’s greeted warmly by fans.

by ryanhealy on Nov 30, 2011 9:20 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

I'm kinda surprised by Jaqua

He hasn’t returned to 2009 form by any stretch but still continues to be valuable when on the field creating space and delivering good passes. But for $140, I guess we should probably expect more.

by chrisperry1983 on Nov 30, 2011 9:48 AM PST up reply actions

the FO needs to be unemotional and ruthless

and they seem be doing just that. It makes me happy, not for the unfortunate guys whose livelihoods are in flux while an entire community openly critiques their value on the internet, but because it would be easy to settle on being a Top 4 club with a great bunch of fun guys. But in order to go from very good to great we’re past the point of just letting the team gel, and all the inefficiency needs to be eliminated. Nate Jacqua was good and may be good again, but I think about that Revs game where he missed a wide open header (he cleared it better than a defender might) and another sitter) and believe you have to be able to rely on your well paid forwards to score those goals when they have the opportunities. I’m not a hater but the sight of Nate coming on never made me think “here we go, now we’ll score”.

by CityDrew on Nov 30, 2011 11:21 AM PST up reply actions

Right now he's probably worth the league minimum

If we can get him back after the re-entry draft for that amount, I’m all for keeping him here. He may create space and make good passes, but he can’t finish on an empty net. If you’re a forward that can’t finish, you don’t deserve 6 figures in this league. Fucito creates space more effectively and efficiently and makes quality passes, and unlike Jaqua he actually scores occasionally. I actually expect to see closer to 10 goals this season from our second forward, mostly between Ochoa and Fucito.

by Randy Meeker on Nov 30, 2011 2:28 PM PST up reply actions

Jaqua has to be the most likely

to get picked up by some MLS team out of this group. Right?

Recessionproof since 2009.

by 253Sounder on Nov 30, 2011 9:28 AM PST reply actions

Who knows, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Noonan get picked up at his current salary

He’s not making much above the league minimum right now. Somebody will take a chance on him I think.

by Nevtelen on Nov 30, 2011 9:47 AM PST up reply actions

As is said below

I think all 3 are certainly capable of getting a roster spot. Graham was in the unfortunate spot of having two of the leagues top 10 CBs (Parke, Hurtado), as well as a very capable back up (Ianni) and a man marking wizard (Scott), in front of him.

Jaqua, while certainly not living up to potential, was not exactly given the most consistent play. He performed marginally well in tournaments and is a hard worker. While that’s not winning him minutes at the Seattles, RSLs and LAs, certainly the DCs, Torontos and (hehe) Portlands will take a gamble.

Noonan is a top 10 MLS goalscorer. He’s also a veteran and, from all accounts, a great presence in the locker room. The dude can hold the ball, and he’s a pretty good passer. Could see him playing the Riquelme role for a bottom feeder, or riding the pine for a middle of the roader.

FRIMPONG ought always be written in full caps #DEEEEEEENCH

by Kyle Ritter on Nov 30, 2011 9:48 AM PST up reply actions

I'm skeptical on Graham

He looked like a statue against the Pumas, the only time I saw him play this last season (only time he played?). Small sample size I know, but…

Recessionproof since 2009.

by 253Sounder on Nov 30, 2011 9:59 AM PST up reply actions

Ding dong, Taylorgraham

Back in the USL Taylor Graham was clearly the top center back in the league and really inspiring to watch. We were gutted the season he moved up to the Wizards but happy he got noticed and had the chance in the big leagues (and glad to have him come back). I can’t help thinking he’s a Darren Huckerby type player: too good for the second tier but just missing a couple essentials to be a standout in the MLS. Not for nothing, he also seems to be a nice guy. Good luck, Taylor Graham, wherever you land.

by CityDrew on Nov 30, 2011 11:04 AM PST up reply actions

That is a perfect analogy

and such a crappy place to be stuck. I loved Graham in USL and even in his competetive matches in ‘09/’10 looked pretty sharp. He’s all but disappeared now though.

by chrisperry1983 on Nov 30, 2011 2:16 PM PST up reply actions

I think also you have to factor in that he only got limited game time

Rusty and probably a bit slowed by injury.

by blakec on Nov 30, 2011 4:09 PM PST up reply actions

Picks

I’d expect all 3 players to get picked up somewhere. I am excited for those changes. It looks like we’re really making some moves to make 2012 the year.

by Ruben Pagan on Nov 30, 2011 9:43 AM PST reply actions

With Keller's retirement

This seems to have opened up a bit of cap space for the sounders. From the salary info I was looking at, that’s over 600K of non-DP salary off the team. Throw in the 200K or so from losing Riley, Wahl and Montano, we might have some cash to work with to rebuild the back end of the team.

by blakec on Nov 30, 2011 9:46 AM PST reply actions

I'll also be interested to see if we don't get a cap bump

You have to imagine the new NBC money and the increased attendance revenue is going to boost the cap.

by blakec on Nov 30, 2011 9:47 AM PST up reply actions

CBA has the cap going up only 5%

It looks like a lot of Cap space until you note that every senior spot (1-20) has to make the minimum, Rosales is getting a huge bump and Gspurning probably makes near Keller money.

Montano is still a Sounder btw.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 30, 2011 10:07 AM PST up reply actions

Did someone let Montreal know we could use some allocation dollars for Montano?

by blakec on Nov 30, 2011 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

So, a little over 100K boost?

by blakec on Nov 30, 2011 10:11 AM PST up reply actions

That looks about right

so one 140k player and a bunch of minimums, I think.

That’s why the allocation means a bunch

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 30, 2011 10:13 AM PST up reply actions

Montano

was a off-budget player.

by gstommylee on Nov 30, 2011 10:33 AM PST up reply actions

based upon the MLS union salary numbers...

here would be what is off the Sounders “books” as of today (if the MLS union salary information is accurate):

Keller $250k
Riley $98k
Wahl $55k
Montano $32k
Boss $44k
Jaqua $140k
Noonan $48k

+ the Montreal allocation amount

by James Owen Gallagher on Nov 30, 2011 11:42 AM PST up reply actions

+CCL amounts

and Montano is still a Sounder according the Sounders website

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 30, 2011 12:55 PM PST up reply actions

do we have a clue about the CCL amounts?

by blakec on Nov 30, 2011 4:07 PM PST up reply actions

+ $293k

For Rosales’ raise. ($355k – $42k)

by chrisperry1983 on Nov 30, 2011 1:13 PM PST up reply actions

Quick math

So subtracting Montano since he is still a Sounder and offcap, the Sounders have cleared ~$635K in cap space plus added an undisclosed amount of Allocation money from the Wahl trade and the CCCL Quarterfinals.

Subtract $293K to bring Mauro’s contract up to roughly DP level from his current salary cap hit of $42K and the team is left with roughly $340 + monopoly money to acquire a new GK and RFB and whatever else they fancy.

With Leo and Tetteh both still in the fold, I look for the team to pick up a young backup RFB that they can groom and then everything depends on what the starting RFB and GK cost. Won’t be surprised if the team then looks for either another Forward, CB or FB and takes the best option they can find within that mix.

by Abbott Smith on Nov 30, 2011 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

They still need to back fill the senior spots they've opened.

They’ve opened 6 senior spots (Boss was a senior spot right?), so to fill them with min salary guys is 252k. 252k + Mauro’s 293k = 545k. So they have ~90k + allocation to add players above the minimum. Granted they can leave spot 19 and 20 open and apply that 84k to the other guys.

by Czazall on Nov 30, 2011 1:34 PM PST up reply actions

Leavinthose slots open still counts as a cap hit

but doesn’t cost the cap money. No that doesn’t make sense.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 30, 2011 1:40 PM PST up reply actions

No, it doesn't

I went back to the league website and looked this up. It is actually very clear on the issue. A team may spread it’s entire cap limit over 18 players. A minimum salary is only applied if a team elects to not fill at least 18 senior slots. Slots 19 and 20 are optional and do not have a league minimum hit if they are not filled.

by Abbott Smith on Nov 30, 2011 2:57 PM PST up reply actions

Here's the actual passage

Players occupying roster spots 1-20 count against the club’s 2011 salary budget of $2,675,000, and are referred to collectively as the club’s Salary Budget Players.

Roster spots 19 and 20 are not required to be filled, and teams may spread their salary budget across only 18 Salary Budget Players. A minimum salary budget charge will be imputed against a team’s salary budget for each unfilled senior roster slot below 18.

by Abbott Smith on Nov 30, 2011 2:58 PM PST up reply actions

i question your interpretation of "below" 18

to me “below 18” refers to less significant slots, ie 19 and 20

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 30, 2011 3:28 PM PST up reply actions

Knew that we were crossing wires somewhere

For me below means slots less than 18. This covers the situation where a team tries to game the system by carrying less than 18 senior players. Say a team wants to only field a senior team of 16 players. The rule then says that they will take a minimum salary cap hit for the vacant 17th and 18th slot.

Looking over the rules, here is how I interpret them:

Slots 1-18 automatically count against the cap.

Slots 19 & 20 can count against the Senior cap or may be off cap. If they are off cap, a team’s entire roster cannot exceed 28 players. If player 19 is on cap, the team can have a total roster of 29. If slot 20 is on cap, the team can have 30 players on it’s roster.

A team can carry up to 10 players off cap or they can choose to only carry 8 or 9 players and use the salary for the remaining off cap players as $35K of Allocation Money each.

Regardless of whether the players are on or off cap, all players 1-24 on a team’s roster must make the league minimum. Players occupying slots 25-30 can make $32,6K if they are under the age of 25 for the entire season.

So an MLS roster could theoretically consist of 18 senior players salaries and 8 offcap players for a total of 26. This would maximize the salary that the team could pay its senior roster but cost the team depth and development.

by Abbott Smith on Nov 30, 2011 4:26 PM PST up reply actions

For Seattle I'm certain that they fill the 20 slots

So our disagreement may be academic. That wouldn’t be the first time on the intertubes.

Seattle did try to get some allocation by not filling slots 29 & 30, but I think by the end of the season they had.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 30, 2011 6:17 PM PST up reply actions

I agree that Seattle will fill their slots

by Abbott Smith on Nov 30, 2011 6:26 PM PST up reply actions

Actually

with Zak and white coming back to action there are 4 senior spots open.

by gstommylee on Nov 30, 2011 1:40 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, that's an interesting point

How does Ochoa’s salary figure in with Zak and White coming back. Did their IR salary go “off the books” and they brought in Merideth and Ochoa with that money?

by blakec on Nov 30, 2011 3:29 PM PST up reply actions

Injured players salaries still count

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 30, 2011 3:36 PM PST up reply actions

What does IR do for you then?

Just clear roster spots?

by blakec on Nov 30, 2011 4:10 PM PST up reply actions

Yep just clears roster spots

but cap hit is still in effect which was what really steamed Sigi when both OBW and Steve were injured.

by eosrebel on Nov 30, 2011 5:17 PM PST up reply actions

Lets hope we have a lot of monopoly money then...

Recessionproof since 2009.

by 253Sounder on Nov 30, 2011 1:51 PM PST up reply actions

forgot about Taylor Graham...

Taylor Graham is also off the books for $60k

by James Owen Gallagher on Nov 30, 2011 1:53 PM PST up reply actions

plus

Allocation money from both winning the us open cup and qualifying for the champions league. That’s a lot of money to play with!

by JZSounder4life on Dec 1, 2011 9:22 AM PST via iPhone app up reply actions

I'm going to miss all these guys, but Jaqua most of all.

He was a big part of making that first year memorable. Sure, I frequently called him a baby giraffe for his occasionally awkward running, but he and Montero were a great pairing, and I’ll never forget his part in the celebration down at PGE park (TIIIIMMMMMBEEERR!)

Also, condolences to Boss for his injury. That’s now two backup keepers that we’ve lost like this (Eyelander). I hope its a trend that doesn’t continue.

by Agent_J on Nov 30, 2011 10:39 AM PST reply actions

FTFY

I always called him a baby giraffe for his constantly awkward running

I’ll miss seeing that baby giraffe too.

Recessionproof since 2009.

by 253Sounder on Nov 30, 2011 10:47 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs

I don't see how a person can run fast and swing their arms the way he did...

SO weird looking… Very inefficient. Almost like he was swinging a tennis racket while running. Seems like he really could have benefited from a running coach.

by SoundersForever on Nov 30, 2011 1:10 PM PST up reply actions

So for any of the four, if they are not picked in the re-entry draft, they could still re-sign with the Sounders?

I know it’d be somewhat unlikely, but it seems like there wasn’t a ton of action in last year’s re-entry drafts. I still feel like Jaqua has some quality minutes to put in if he can get fully healthy for a while. I think declining his option makes plenty of sense, though, especially if Ochoa is good enough to protect. I also think Noonan can help someone as depth, but given how few minutes he got this last year, even with the Sounders playing close to the max number of games possible, it’s hard to justify paying him over the minimum.

by ubelmann on Nov 30, 2011 10:57 AM PST reply actions

Yes, any could be resigned at a lower number after Phase Two

But I wouldn’t expect it

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Nov 30, 2011 11:00 AM PST up reply actions

Praise Jebus!

Adios Jaqua.

by MicahRowe18 on Nov 30, 2011 10:59 AM PST via iPhone app reply actions

I have a question regarding noonan

he was under 2 separate contracts last season, 48k (96k per year) in the first half then 24k(48k per year) in the 2nd half wouldn’t that open 72k since he is no longer on seattle’s roster?

I’m probably am wrong on that but i felt it was at least worth asking.

by gstommylee on Nov 30, 2011 11:04 AM PST reply actions