An idea to track the current rosters for MLS goalkeepers for the upcoming 2014 season. We'll see if I stick with it. You can check out the original and quite lengthy article over at this little link.
Some interesting story lines you might want to follow are Columbus, Seattle, Kansas City, and New England. All are open for competition. I put some more comments below on the team sections.
If a player is waived, that means they're most certainly out of the organization. If they're out of contract or their option isn't picked up, they could return, so don't rule them out completely.
Teams without three goalkeepers: Chivas USA, Philadelphia Union
Here are the projected depth charts thus far:
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Chicago Fire
Starter: Sean Johnson (23)
Back Up: Kyle Reynish (30)
In Reserve: Alec Kann (24)
Out: Paolo Tornaghi (25 - waived)
In: Kyle Reynish (30 - signed)
Bill Vegas says: Paolo was a decent backup but I hope they sign an MLS SuperDraft. Let's get Kann on the bench.
edit 01.14.14: The Fire bring in Cosmos starter Kyle Reynish, which is a bummer because I wanted Kann to get closer to the field not farther from it.
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Chivas USA
Starter: Dan Kennedy (31)
Back Up: Tim Melia (26)
In Reserve: Jake McGuire (19 - college)
Out: Patrick McLain (25 - option declined)
In: none
Bill Vegas says: Kennedy is on the downhill and Melia isn't the answer. Not sure why they dropped McLain... Picking up a starting competitor and a SuperDraft would be smart.
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Colorado Rapids
Starter: Clint Irwin (24)
Back Up: Matt Pickens (31)
In Reserve: John Berner (22), Andrew Epstein (17 - college)
Out: Steward Ceus (26 - option declined)
In: John Berner (22 - drafted)
Bill Vegas says: If they sell Pickens (look for on draft day) they'll need a backup. A SuperDraft wouldn't hurt.
edit 01.16.14: Berner is a second round draft pick and unless Pickens moves Berner will get comfortable with the bench.
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Columbus Crew
Starter: Steve Clark (27)
Back Up: Matt Lampson (24)
In Reserve: Daniel Withrow (23), Brad Stuver (22)
Out: Andy Gruenebaum (30 - out of contract)
In: Brad Stuver (22 - waiver draft), Steve Clark (27 - traded rights from Seattle)
Bill Vegas says: Gruenebaum and Lampson are equally shaky but in different ways. If things play out injury-free it'll be fine. If not...
edit 12.10.13: Gruenebaum could take a similar exit like Will Hesmer did last year. I'm sure there are health concerns. Lampson isn't there yet so if they run with him it'll be a bump first half of the season.
edit 12.17.13: Well I didn't call this. I figured Clark would end up at SKC but Columbus will definitely use him. Gspurning takes the void in SKC instead. Honestly this feels like an upgrade for all parties involved, except Seattle. The Withrow-Stuver battle might be interesting.
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D.C. United
Starter: Bill Hamid (23)
Back Up: Joe Willis (25)
In Reserve: Andrew Dykstra (27)
Out:
In:
Bill Vegas says: Nothing. They're set.
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FC Dallas
Starter: Raul Fernandez (28)
Back Up: Chris Seitz (26)
In Reserve: Richard Sanchez (19), Kyle Zobeck (23), Jesse Gonzalez (18)
Out:
In:
Bill Vegas says: Perhaps move Seitz to open the door a little bit for Sanchez but otherwise they're fine.
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Houston Dynamo
Starter: Tally Hall (28)
Back Up: Tyler Deric (25)
In Reserve: Michael Lisch (22)
Out: Erich Marscheider (20)
In: Michael Lisch (22 - Drafted)
Bill Vegas says: Nothing. They're set.
edit 12.17.13: This might be some foreshadowing for National Champion Pat Wall...
edit 01.06.14: Looks like Wall is staying another year in the NCAA. Houston is set.
edit 01.28.14: I don't know why they drafted Lisch, who basically had no press going into the draft. A real head-scratcher.
edit 02.01.14: Turns out Marscheider was not brought back although it is unfortunate that the only news about it is Marschy's Twitter bio update.
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LA Galaxy
Starter: Jamie Penedo (32)
Back Up: Brian Rowe (25)
In Reserve: Brian Perk (24)
Out: Carlo Cudicini (40)
In:
Bill Vegas says: I shiver when I see Cudicini's name now but besides that they're set.
edit 01.28.14: To no surprise, Cudicini was dropped.
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Montreal Impact
Starter: Troy Perkins (32)
Back Up: Evan Bush (27)
In Reserve: Maxime Crépeau (19), Dominic Provost (20), Samuel Dufort (19)
Out:
In:
Bill Vegas says: Nothing, at the moment. They're set for one more year. After that...
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New England Revolution
Starter: Bobby Shuttleworth (26)
Back Up: Brad Knighton (28)
In Reserve: Luis Soffner (23)
Out: Matt Reis (38 - option declined), Luis Soffner (23 - option declined)
In: Brad Knighton (28 - traded from Vancouver), Luis Soffner (23 - re-signed)
Bill Vegas says: Someone to press Shuttleworth and a SuperDraft pick wouldn't hurt. Look for Soffner to return.
edit 12.10.13: Kudos to Reis on a great career.
edit 12.11.13: New England is on the ball. I think they're hoping for Knighton to press Shuttleworth but by the third game or so Shuttleworth should have it in the bag. The real battle would be between Soffner and Knighton.
edit 12.27.13: Soffner gets re-signed after his option was declined so obviously his contract has been re-structured. New England seems to like him.
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New York Red Bulls
Starter: Luis Robles (29)
Back Up: Ryan Meara (23)
In Reserve: Santiago Castano (18), Keith Cardona (21 - college)
Out: Kevin Hartman (39 - retired)
In:
Bill Vegas says: Nothing. They're set.
edit 12.17.13: Robles signs new contract. Details not out yet.
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Philadelphia Union
Starter: Zac MacMath (22) / Andre Blake (23)
Back Up:
In Reserve: Zack Steffen (18 - college)
Out: Chris Konopka (28 - traded to Toronto), Oka Nikolov (39 - waived)
In: Andrew Blake (23 - Drafted)
Bill Vegas says: Someone needs to honestly press MacMath for the starting spot. Not just be in the mix.
01.16.14 edit: I still think MacMath starts as he already has 74 starts under his belt despite Blake's skill. They still need a third goalkeeper though.
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Portland Timbers
Starter: Donovan Ricketts (36)
Back Up: Jake Gleeson (23)
In Reserve: Milos Kocic (28), David Meves (23), Blake Hylen (23), Justin Baarts (23)
Out:
In: Andrew Weber (28 - signed)
Bill Vegas says: Ricketts doesn't have a lot of gas in the tank left and Portland is not prepared for that. Trading Ricketts after winning GKOTY would be the best move but that's not going to happen.
edit 01.14.14: This is too many goalkeepers. I never thought I'd say that.
edit 02.01.14: Gleeson plays the second half of a preseason game so I guess that makes him second string.
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Real Salt Lake
Starter: Nick Rimando (34)
Back Up: Jeff Attinella (25)
In Reserve: Eduardo Fernández (20)
Out: Josh Saunders (32 - option declined)
In:
Bill Vegas says: Nothing. They're set.
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San Jose Earthquakes
Starter: Jon Busch (37)
Back Up: David Bingham (24)
In Reserve: Bryan Meredith (24), Billy Knutsen (21)
Out: Evan Newton (25 - option declined)
In: Billy Knutsen (21 - drafted), Bryan Meredith (24 - signed)
Bill Vegas says: SuperDraft pick and hopefully we see the rise of David Bingham this year.
edit 01.28.14: Knutsen fills Newton's void.
edit 02.01.14: Well not a ton of faith in Knutsen but okay...
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Seattle Sounders
Starter: Stefan Frei (27)
Back Up: Marcus Hahnemann (40)
In Reserve: Josh Ford (26), Zac Lubin (24), Earl Edwards (21 - college)
Out: Michael Gspurning (32 - option declined), Andrew Weber (30 - loaned back), Steve Clark (27 - traded rights to Columbus)
In: Stefan Frei (27 - traded from Toronto)
Bill Vegas says: Uh. They need... anyone?
edit 12.10.13: I don't think Frei is the answer long term but he'll do for this next season. Hahnemann will likely return.
edit 12.17.13: Gspurning wasn't exactly thrilled to leave and Seattle really got some chump change for an MLS starter. The also brought Hahnemann and Ford back into the fold.
edit 01.28.14: John McCarthy is on trail against Josh Ford and Lubin is on a trail in Sweden. I think McCarthy can steal Ford's position.
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Sporting Kansas City
Starter: Eric Kronberg (30)
Back Up: Andy Gruenebaum (30)
In Reserve: Jon Kempin (20)
Out: Jimmy Nielsen (36 - retired)
In: Andy Gruenebaum (30 - traded from Columbus)
Bill Vegas says: A starter would be nice unless SKC want 11 field players.
edit 12.17.13: SKC picks up a solid starter but how many games will he play with health issues? Could be a big win for SKC or a bust.
edit 12.22.13: Kronberg has been named the starter but I don't believe it. I mean, I think they think Kronberg will be the starter but I just don't think he can hold down the position the entire year with Gruenebaum on the bench.
edit 02.01.14: Kronberg started in the preseason match but I just can't believe it. I just can't...
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Toronto FC
Starter: Joe Bendik (24)
Back Up: Chris Konopka (28)
In Reserve: Quillian Roberts (19), Garret Cypus (21), Angelo Cavalluzzo (20), Chad Bush (19)
Out: Stefan Frei (27 - traded to Seattle)
In: Chris Konopka (28 - traded from Philadelphia)
Bill Vegas says: Some more space. Frei is worth at least a fourth round draft pick.
edit: 12.10.13: Turns out Frei is worth a first round pick! (It's conditional on something and for 2015) Toronto is set going into next season.
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Vancouver Whitecaps
Starter: David Ousted (28)
Back Up: Paolo Tornaghi
In Reserve: Marco Carducci (17), Carraco, Callum Irving (20), Sean Melvin (19)
Out: Joe Cannon (38), Simon Thomas (23), Brad Knighton (28 - traded to New England)
In:
Bill Vegas says: Either a decent backup or someone to press Ousted.
edit 12.10.13: Thomas not likely to re-sign and he doesn't sound too happy about it.
edit 12.11.13: Good move on Vancouver's part to get something before losing him completely.
edit 01.06.13: Look for Vancouver to pick up Generation Adidas product Andre Blake.
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Best Available Free Agents
Joe Cannon (38)
Doug Herrick (24)
Patrick McLain (25)
Steward Ceus (26)
Josh Wicks (30)
Chase Harrison (29)
Evan Newton (25)