The Revolution announced Monday morning they have exercised options on a whopping 13 players, setting the current roster at 19 heading into the first stage of the offseason.
The moves come on the heels of New England triggering the buy clauses in the loan agreements for attacking midfielder Cristian Penilla and defensive midfielder Luis Caicedo on Friday.
The following players had their options exercised: defender Jalil Anibaba, striker Teal Bunbury, defender Brandon Bye, Homegrown midfielder Scott Caldwell (Braintree, Mass.), goalkeeper Cody Cropper, defender Antonio Delamea, Homegrown midfielder Diego Fagundez (Leominster, Mass.), defender Andrew Farrell, Homegrown midfielder Zachary Herivaux (Brookline, Mass.), goalkeeper Brad Knighton, midfielder Kelyn Rowe, goalkeeper Matt Turner, and striker Brian Wright.
Six players had options declined: defender Claude Dielna, striker Femi Hollinger-Janzen, midseason midfield acquisitions Guillermo Hauche and Cristhian Machado, and 2018 SuperDraft selections striker Mark Segbers and defender Nico Samayoa.
Striker/midfielder Juan Agudelo and defender Chris Tierney — who hails from Wellesley, Mass. — are out of contract as of Dec. 31. The Revs have until Tuesday, Nov. 20 to make bonafide contract offers to both players.
Tierney, who will turn 33 in January, has been out of action since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on May 30. He is eligible for free agency starting Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. ET.
Four players were already under contract for the 2019 season: Homegrown midfielder Isaac Angking of Providence, RI, defender Michael Mancienne, defender Gabriel Somi, and defensive midfielder Wilfried Zahibo.
With the moves made, New England enter the offseason with three international slots open, with the following players currently occupying slots: Penilla, Caicedo, Mancienne, Somi, and Zahibo.
In addition, the Revs have no designated players on the roster.
BSJ Analysis
OK, let’s breathe for a second. The knee-jerk reaction is obvious: “OMG the core group is going to return in 2019, they dropped so many points, 2019 is already doomed!” And yes, you have every right to mash the panic button about that.
But let’s remember a couple of things before we all make a beeline for the Tobin.
The expansion draft is coming up in about five or six weeks; there will be a list of protected/unprotected players for MLS newboys FC Cincinnati to choose from the 23 existing MLS clubs, and it’s possible the Revs could lose a player or two. Not saying that will happen; I’m just saying the possibility is there for that to occur. I suspect a fair amount of those who had their options exercised -- and maybe even two of those who are guaranteed for '19, hmmmm? -- will be on the unprotected list.
If you want to look at the Revs’ history in the expansion draft, here you go:
- Last December, LAFC took no Revolution players.
- In December 2016, Minnesota United selected Hollinger-Janzen with the last pick, but turned around and traded him back to New England in exchange for goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
- In December 2014 — days after the Revs went to the MLS Cup Final — New York City FC selected both Patrick Mullins and Tony Taylor.
- In December 2011 and 2010, the Revs lost no players.
- In December 2009, the Revs lost Knighton to Philadelphia.
- In December 2008, the Revs lost Khano Smith to Seattle.
- In 2007, the Revs lost James Riley to the second incarnation of San Jose.
- In 2006, the Revs lost Jose Cancela to Toronto.
- In 2004, the Revs lost Brian Kamier and Rusty Pierce to Real Salt Lake.
- In 1997, the Revs lost Francis Okaroh to Chicago.