At some point in the near future — most likely this week — the Seattle Sounders will announce a slew of decisions on players who are either out of contract or have options due at the end of the year. Virtually all of their exit interviews have already been conducted, and there are already reports about how many of those went.
While this doesn’t appear to be quite as consequential an offseason as last year — when two Designated Player spots were going to open, potentially — there are several key contributors for whom big decisions loom who collectively represent nearly $4 million in salary.
Here’s how we expect them to play out (with 2025 guaranteed compensation listed):
Out-of-contract players
Stefan Frei ($600,000): After 12 seasons with the Sounders and 16 in MLS, Frei is almost certainly looking at his last contract. The 39-year-old is coming off a solid season that had some ups and downs, but could probably land a starting job somewhere if that’s what he really wants, and he has said that he’d like to play at least one more year. At the same time, the Sounders have been grooming Andrew Thomas to be their starter, and at 27 it looks like it will be his job to lose. I’m fairly confident this has been communicated to Frei, who has likely been invited to return as long as he understands it would be primarily as a backup. That seems like it would be a good fit for all involved, but I can understand if Frei wants more of a chance to be a starter. Chances of returning: 75%
Paul Rothrock ($104,000): Based on the reporting of Niko Moreno and myself, it seems as though the Sounders have made what they feel like is their best offer. I don’t know exactly how much that is, but I suspect it’s somewhere in the range of $600,000. It also appears as if Rothrock is holding out for an offer closer to the maximum he can receive as a free agent (roughly $830,000). I can’t say I begrudge either side in this situation, but I will note that the Sounders had a chance to sign Rothrock for about half that amount last offseason and instead gave him a chance to “prove it” in 2025. To Rothrock’s credit, that’s exactly what he did. I’m not entirely sure there’s a team out there willing to meet his valuation, though, which could leave him in a somewhat awkward position if the Sounders sign his replacement relatively quickly. Chances of returning: 35%
Jon Bell ($135,000): Picked up in the Re-Entry Draft a couple years ago, Bell has quietly been a very useful player. I’m sure the Sounders made him an offer to return, but I suspect at 28 he wants to test free agency as there’s a decent chance someone will see him as at least capable of competing for a starting spot. I can’t blame him if that’s what he chooses. Chances of returning: 10%
Options due
Ryan Kent ($959,500): A midseason pickup who effectively took Paul Arriola’s spot on the roster and budget, the midfielder showed flashes of what made him such a fascinating talent. His stats looked pretty good, with five assists in about 850 minutes and he even converted his penalty in the season-ending shootout. But bringing him back will be a little complicated. Not only is he probably due some raise on what is already a pretty hefty salary, there’s bound to be a fair amount of competition at winger. It’s already been reported that the Sounders turned down his option, but I suspect they’ll at least try to bring him back at a lower cap hit. I suspect he’ll be able to get more if he wants to go back to Europe and might even find a taker in MLS. Chances of returning: 40%
