Since the Seattle Sounders have been in existence, Leo Gonzalez and Zach Scott have called the team home. There’s never been a season without either of the 35-year-old defenders present on the field and representing the Sounders, but the team just announced that they are declining their options for the next season. Fans will certainly be missing two of their most beloved players in the upcoming year.

In addition to Leo and Scott, midfielder Marco Pappa, goalie Troy Perkins, international player Gonzalo Pineda, and midfielder Tomas were declined. Other players who will be up for grabs during the MLS Waiver Draft include forward Chad Barrett, midfielder Micheal Azira and defender Andres Correa. Although forward Andy Craven and midfielder Andy Rose had expired contracts going into the draft, the Sounders decided to provide them both with new contracts.

The MLS Waiver Draft will happen on December 9, 2015, so hopefully all of the guys will have new teams to call home soon. It will be especially tough on Scott and Leo, who’ve been with the team so long. Wherever they go, it will be away from the place that they know so well both as players as well as members of the community.

Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey braced fans with the new that more announcements will be coming soon. He also said that the choices that were made were not easy ones.  The good news is that plenty of players are here to stay for the next season, and Stefan Frei, Defender of the Year, is no surprise on that list. Other players that we can look forward to seeing next season include defenders Damion Lowe, Dylan Remick, Oniel Fisher and Jimmy Ockford. Chad Marshall, Charlie Lyon, Aaron Kovar, Tyrone Mears and Vic Mansaray were all approved by the team as well.

Fans knew that several players, including Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans and Roman Torres, were already under contract for the next season with the Sounders. Obafemi Martins will of course be back, as will Cristian Roldan, Erik Friberg, Nelson Valdez, Clint Dempsey, Andreas Ivanschitz and Darwin Jones.

What kind of announcements do you thinking Lagerwey, Schmid and co will have for us in the upcoming weeks? Do you think we’ll get some promising fresh blood on the team with such seasoned players out of the lineup? Post your Seattle Sounders predictions, tips and rumors below.

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