MLS champion Toronto FC starts work on shaping 2018 roster by opening up space
TORONTO — MLS champion Toronto FC started work on next season’s roster Thursday, declining contract options on eight players.
While goalkeeper Mark Pais, defenders Brandon Aubrey and Oyvind Alseth, midfielders Sergio Camargo, Armando Cooper and Benoit Cheyrou and forwards Ben Spencer and Tsubasa Endoh did not have their options renewed, the club said they will “likely” be invited to training camp.
With the exception of Cooper and Cheyrou, the players whose options were not picked up saw little or no action. Only Cooper made a significant salary at US$202,333 with most of the rest at or near the league minimum.
But the moves give GM Tim Bezbatchenko some room, at least in roster numbers. Also Alseth, Cheyrou, Cooper and Endoh are international players and those spaces will be prized next season with an influx of targeted allocation money likely to be used on talented imports.