After claiming the top spot in the Western Conference in 2013 before being bounced from the MLS Cup playoffs in the West Championship to Real Salt Lake, the Portland Timbers started looking forward to 2014, announcing Monday they have exercised the 2014 options of nine players, including team captain Will Johnson.
In addition to Johnson, the Timbers chose to re-up midfielders Michael Nanchoff, Rodney Wallace and Ben Zemanski; defenders Mamadou "Futty" Danso, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Pa Modou Kah and Rauwshan McKenzie; and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.
The Timbers also announced that the 2014 contracts for defenders David Horst and Ryan Miller were declined, and defender Dylan Tucker-Gangnes and forward Brent Richards were waived.
Currently the Timbers have 12 players under contract for 2014, including MLS Best XI goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and midfielder Diego Valeri.
