Real Salt Lake’s offseason has officially begun.
After the team was eliminated in the first round of the Major League Soccer playoffs, RSL has made its first decisions regarding the future of its roster.
The club announced Wednesday that it has declined the options of forwards Bobby Wood, Tate Schmitt and Chris Garcia. It also declined the options of midfielder Nick Besler, defender Johan Kappelhof and 2021 SuperDraft pick Bret Halsey.
Defender Marcelo Silva, who served as the team’s acting captain throughout the entirety of Damir Kreilach’s 30-game absence in 2022, is out of contract. Goalkeeper Tomas Gomez and forward Sergio Cordova are also out of contract. Cordova scored the most goals for RSL in 2022.
The club said in a news release that it is “engaged with Silva about a potential long-term return.” It is also in discussions with Gomez and Cordova about a potential return next year. Cordova is on loan from FC Augsburg, and that loan will soon expire.
The majority of the squad is expected to return in 2023, including Kreilach, who missed most of the previous season with an injury. Other notable players who remain under contract for next season are Zac MacMath, Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Justin Meram, Pablo Ruiz, Maikel Chang and Rubio Rubin.
