With the announcement of who is traveling, who is staying, who is back at school, and who is injured the re-signing of Tyson Wahl via "free agency" complicates things a little bit. It means the club has 21 on the Senior Roster and 2 on the Developmental Roster. Now if one assumes that the roster size will stay the same (which may/may not happen) that means the club is looking at 2 Developmentals and still has to cut, or transfer to the Injured List 1 Senior member.
Here is the current Roster with DPs in bold, Developmentals in italics and an (I) by Internationals (max 8).
| TF | ||||
| Montero (I) | ||||
| Levesque | ||||
| WF | ||||
| LW | Ljungberg (I) | RW | ||
| Zakuani (I) | Nyassi (I) | Jaqua | ||
| Estrada | ||||
| CM | ||||
| Evans | ||||
| King | ||||
| CDM | ||||
| LWB | Alonso | RWB | ||
| Gonzalez (I) | CB ONE | Vagenas | CB TWO | Riley |
| Scott | Hurtado (I) | Sturgis | Marshall | |
| Wahl | Graham | Ianni | ||
| KEEPER | ||||
| Keller | ||||
| Boss | ||||
| Eylander |
That's the 23 that are under contract at this time, but the traveling squad is a little different. Below are the guys that are not currently under contract who are traveling. There's a surprise player or two in there.
Keepers: Derby Carillo, Patrick Lane
Defenders: Jeff Parke, Jamel Wallace
Midfielders: Mike Fucito, Josh Gardner, Lamar Neagle
Forwards: Tye Predido
It should be noted that Brad Evans is with the US National Team again. Nate Jaqua and Terry Boss stayed back as both are injured. Draftee Michael Seamon is back at school. Some of the other trialists may be invited back when the team returns to Seattle.
Note that there are only two "trialists" on the trip who are not eligible to be on a Developmental Contract. For one of them to make the roster on First Kick would mean that TWO current Senior Players are cut/injured. It is also notable that none are "internationals" meaning that Seattle leaves itself with two of those slots.
Also, though I think the news is the roster battle, the Sounder-verse is stoked because Jhon Kennedy Hurtado is no longer on a loan, but has fully transfered to MLS and Seattle Sounders FC. Brad Evans was also signed to an extension.
How do you see that battle for those final two spots turning out?
Update: I have confirmation from the team (just today) that Gardner is/was not on the trip.