Nat Borchers

Out of contract following 2016 season.

Whenever Nat Borchers hangs up his boots, he’ll be considered one of the league’s most brutally effective center backs in history despite going undrafted in 2003. Incredibly, in 11 seasons in MLS, Borchers has played more than 2,000 minutes in every one. That includes his key roles in the middle for two different clubs during MLS Cup title runs; once for Real Salt Lake in 2009 and again for the Timbers in 2015. Borchers is also a devastating weapon on dead balls and corners; his 15 career goals is one of the best totals for a defender in MLS history.

INTERNATIONAL: Borchers’ breakout rookie campaign for the Colorado Rapids in 2003 earned him a U.S. U23 call-up, and he made his full national team debut two years later. He’s had three caps to date, the last coming in 2010.

OUTSIDE MLS: In a 12-plus year pro career, Borchers has only spent one of those outside MLS. He made 42 appearances for Odds BK in the Norwegian Tippeligaen in 2006-2007.

COLLEGE: Borchers spent four wildly successful years at the University of Denver, where he was named to the all-league roster three times and was the league MVP his senior year.