The Seattle Sounders continued their offseason trimming and pruning of their first team roster with the signing of midfielder Alex Roldan and defense Jordan McCrary to the first team roster. Roldan is the younger brother of Cristian Roldan was selected as the 22nd overall pick in the 2018 MLS Super Draft by the Rave Green. McCrary joins the team after a successful preseason trial out. McCrary was with Toronto FC II in 2017.
When you participated in the last two MLS Cup a case can be made that all you need to do as a team is add some depth and add a couple of players who can push you’re existing starters for minutes. A solid philosophy if the team is able to compete with divisional teams who have spent the preseason reloading. Only time will tell if the Sounders front office made the right choice.
In addition to McCray and Roldan, the Sounders have added midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikren, Seyi Adekoya, Handwalla Bwana, and Waylon Francis to first team contracts. All four could provide depth on the first team roster while Eikrem and Francis could see some starting assignments with the Sounders higher fixture congestion due to the teams participating in the Champions League.
The Sounders first team roster is now at 25 players. The Rave Green will its last preseason game on Thursday, February 15 at the Sacramento Republic and will begin its 10th MLS season on February 22 with the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, before the MLS season kicks off on March 4 at home against expansion side Los Angeles FC.
2017/18 TRANSACTIONS
| PLAYERS IN | PLAYERS OUT |
| D Jordan McCrary (2/13/18 – Signed by Sounders FC) | D Oniel Fisher (2/7/18 – Traded to D.C. United) |
| M Alex Roldan (2/13/18 – Signed by Sounders FC) | M Aaron Kovar (1/23/18 – Loaned to LAFC) |
| M Magnus Wolff Eikrem (1/30/18 – Signed by Sounders FC) | M Calum Mallace (12/12/17 – Contract option declined) |
| D Chris Bared (1/21/18 – Selected in third round of MLS SuperDraft) | GK Bryan Meredith (12/12/17 – Out of contract) |
| M Alex Roldan and D Markus Fjortoft (1/19/18 – Selected via MLS SuperDraft) | D/M Brad Evans (12/12/17 – Out of contract) |
| M Handwalla Bwana (1/11/18 – Signed as Homegrown Player) | D Joevin Jones (12/12/17 – Out of contract) |
| D Waylon Francis (12/14/17 – Acquired via trade from Columbus Crew SC) | F Lamar Neagle (12/12/17 – Out of contract) |
| GK Bryan Meredith (12/14/17 – Re-signed) | GK Tyler Miller (12/12/17 – Selected by LAFC in Expansion Draft) |
| Contracts exercised on 11 players (12/12/17) |
