Where the New England Revolution roster stands heading into 2021
The 2020 New England Revolution season is over and in the coming days the club will hold exit interviews and make contract decisions ahead of next season.
Following the Revolution’s 1–0 loss to Columbus Crew SC in the Eastern Conference Finals, head coach/sporting director Bruce Arena said he is satisfied with the foundation and progress he’s built over the last year and a half, but that there are more improvements he wants to make heading into 2021.
The Revolution can free up significant cap space with this year’s contract decisions. Below is my breakdown of where players likely stand heading into next season. But first, some key pieces of information:
- The MLS Players Union did not release 2020 salary figures.
- Based on my prior reporting, I have full contract data for Matt Turner, Carles Gil, Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa, Michael Mancienne, Scott Caldwell, and Brad Knighton.
- Unless I knew otherwise, I only used 2019 salary figures for players who last signed a contract in 2018 or prior, as it provides a conservative look at their compensation heading into next year, assuming their options are picked up or they’re already under contract.
- Excluding Carles Gil (because he’s a DP, and also more on him later) I listed nine players who might not be back next year based solely on the amount of playing time they received in 2020. If you add all their salaries up using 2019 figures, which in all likelihood are lower than what they were for 2020 and will be in 2021, the Revolution can free up at least $2.6 million with just those nine players.
Goalkeepers
Matt Turner: Arguably the best goalkeeper in MLS, he isn’t leaving New England unless a team shows up with significant transfer fee. He’s on a guaranteed contract for 2021. Here’s my prior reporting on the amount the Revolution could reasonably ask for Turner if they’re considering his sale.
Brad Knighton: Assuming he wants to play his current contract out (he’ll be 36 when the 2021 season starts), the Revs will probably pick up his option and he’ll be back in 2021.
Jeff Caldwell: His status is a toss-up heading into 2021. Even if Turner leaves, Caldwell is likely in a back-up role next season.
Defenders
Andrew Farrell: The Revolution have a solid combination in central defense with Farrell and Henry Kessler, so look for the team to pick up Farrell’s option. He’s very likely back in 2021.
Henry Kessler: Revolution are all but guaranteed to be picking his option up after a sterling rookie campaign as the team’s best defender.
Antonio Delamea: His season was unfortunately defined by a bad giveaway in the MLS is Back Tournament, as the veteran defender went on to mostly sit on the bench thanks to very promising play by Kessler. Delamea costs New England roughly $425,000 — that’s a lot of salary to leave on the sidelines, though the club still doesn’t have much depth at center back.
Michael Mancienne: He has an option on his contract, but if the Revs pick it up they’ll be committing roughly $400,000 to a player who will be 33 when next season starts and appeared in just seven games across all competitions in 2020.
Alexander Buttner: Injuries kept Buttner out of the playoffs, but he was a reliable and experienced full back throughout the season. The Revolution will likely pick up his contract option if he isn’t under a guaranteed contract already for 2021.
Collin Verfurth: He didn’t play once for the first team this season, but he was a standout in USL League One for Revolution II. Look for New England to pick up his option.
DeJuan Jones: He was key at left back for the Revolution down the stretch and in the playoffs and will likely see his option picked up or sign a new deal with the team.
Brandon Bye: He’s not a lock to return in 2021, but after earning several starts at the beginning of the season and being used as a depth player in the playoffs, the Revolution wouldn’t be in the wrong to pick up his option. That said, Bye could represent an interesting piece for an expansion team or a team in rebuild mode.
Seth Sinovic: He played just 13 minutes this season after signing a free agent deal with the club in the winter. At 33, he’s likely to have his option declined barring him being on a guaranteed contract for 2021.
Midfielders
Carles Gil: Though he has an option on his contract, Gil likely has recently mentioned wanting a new deal. Considering he only just turned 28, he has plenty left in tank to deserve a more lucrative deal. Gil received $2.1 million in pay in 2020, according to sources with knowledge of the player’s contract situation. While he spent most of this season injured, he was one of the Revolution’s top two players in the playoffs and clearly the engine of the team’s attack.
Let’s put it this way: In 2019, Toronto FC’s Alejandro Pozuelo earned $3.8 million, Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez earned $3 million, and Seattle Sounders FC’s Nicolas Lodeiro earned $2.5 million. Average that together and you get $3.1 million. Anyone negotiating for Carles Gil will likely ask for that figure at minimum when it comes time to discuss a new deal, because Carles Gil does for New England what Pozuelo, Lodeiro, and Martinez do for their teams.
Cristian Penilla: Arena wasn’t shy about criticizing Penilla’s performances and struggled to find a place for him in the attack. The team is on the hook for at least $500,000 with Penilla on the books. Unless Arena feels confident Penilla has a future in New England, don’t expect the club to pick up his option.
Matt Polster: New England will likely pick up Polster’s option if he isn’t already under guaranteed contract for 2021 after a promising showing in the latter half of this past season.
Tommy McNamara: The Revolution will likely pick up McNamara’s contract option after using him as both a starter and super sub in the latter half of 2020. Assuming his 2020 salary is roughly the same as his 2019 salary, he’s on a very cap-friendly deal.
Diego Fagundez: The New England Revolution have reportedly offered Fagundez a contract for 2021, though the player appears to also have offers from elsewhere. Expect Fagundez to make his feelings known in the coming days.
Lee Nguyen: He signed his most recent contract in March 2016, so he’s either out of contract on Jan. 1 or has one option year left. In any case, Nguyen’s current base salary is an albatross on the ledger. Arena used him mostly as a super sub this season, and he barely factored in during the playoffs. New England could keep Nguyen for his veteran experience, but the 34-year-old will likely see a sizeable pay cut if he stays.
Scott Caldwell: New England’s second-ever homegrown player had a prominent role in the post-season and regular season stretch run. He signed a new contract last year, so expect the Revolution to pick up his option.
Luis Caicedo: Out for the entire 2020 season, he played a prominent role in central midfield after Arena took over last season. His contract status is unknown heading into next year: His current deal is either up or he has an option on his contract.
Kelyn Rowe: He re-signed with the Revolution of free agency in the winter. If his contract isn’t guaranteed for 2021, he is likely to see his option picked up.
Tajon Buchanan: Now a converted right back who adds a dynamic dimension to the attack and asserted himself as a breakout player in the post-season, look for the Revs to pick up his option.
Isaac Angking: Homegrown player — should see option picked up.
Damian Rivera: Homegrown player — should see option picked up.
Nicolas Firmino: Homegrown player — should see option picked up.
Forwards
Teal Bunbury: He led the Revolution in scoring the during the regular season, is a veteran presence in the locker room, and just won the team’s Humanitarian of the Year Award. Bunbury is happy in New England and will likely see his contract picked up.
Gustavo Bou: The other half of the New England’s lethal one-two punch in the post-season is likely going nowhere. The Revolution are all but guaranteed to pick up Bou’s option, unless he’s already under contract for 2021.
Adam Buksa: The Revolution are all but guaranteed pick up Buksa’s option barring the DP already being under contract for 2021.
Kekuta Manneh: Remained on the periphery for most of New England’s stretch run and the playoffs. Manneh has plenty of speed and upside, but finding a role for him will be big challenge in 2021. His 2019 salary indicates he’s still getting paid upwards $391,000 — a lot for someone who’s mostly been on the bench.
Justin Rennicks: After seeing some minutes off the bench in the playoffs, and appearing regularly for Revolution II, expect to see Rennicks’ option picked up.
Rough Predictions
Returning: Matt Turner, Brad Knighton, Andrew Farrell, Henry Kessler, DeJuan Jones, Alexander Buttner, Collin Verfurth, Scott Caldwell, Tajon Buchanan, Kelyn Rowe, Tommy McNamara, Matt Polster, Luis Caicedo, Isaac Angking, Damian Rivera, Nicolas Firmino, Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa, Teal Bunbury, Justin Rennicks
On the bubble: Jeff Caldwell, Antonio Delamea, Brandon Bye, Carles Gil, Diego Fagundez, Lee Nguyen, Kekuta Manneh, Seth Sinovic, Michael Mancienne, Cristian Penilla
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated Carles Gil was out of contract on Jan. 1.
