Real Salt Lake declines options on Vasquez, Phillips, Pecka, Kavita

Real Salt Lake has declined exercising options (read: chosen not to re-sign) on several players today, including some names you might not have expected to see — Elias Vasquez and Demar Phillips, among others.

Vasquez and Phillips are joined by Phanuel Kavita and Pecka, neither of whom played substantial minutes in 2015. Vasquez, 23, played 15 games and Phillips, 32, played 18 games, earning one red card in the process.

Additionally, Real Salt Lake exercised options (read: chose to re-sign) Lalo Fernandez, Abdoulie Mansally, Boyd Okwuonu, Luke Mulholland, John Stertzer, Olmes Garcia and Devon Sandoval.

They join a slew of players with contracts that weren't expiring or in need of contract options: Nick Rimando, Jeff Attinella, Tony Beltran, Justen Glad, Aaron Maund; Kyle Beckerman, Sebastian Saucedo, Fito Ovalle, Javier Morales; Juan Manuel Martinez, Joao Plata, Sebastian Jaime, Jordan Allen.

Finally, Real Salt Lake also re-signed Jamison Olave, which was announced today as well.

This leaves Luis Silva, Luis Gil, and Chris Schuler out of contract for Real Salt Lake, and it certainly appears the first two won't be wearing the Claret and Cobalt in 2016.

This all indicates a pretty substantial re-build of the defense — and, of course, players not having their options exercised doesn't mean they're not eligible for return. They can still sign new contracts, even after going through the MLS Re-Entry Draft.