Photo by Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports

By ADAM TROXTELL

The Seattle Sounders began the process of starting anew on Thursday, declining contract options for eight players.

The holders of the U.S. Open Cup and Supporters’ Shield maintain a roster of 22 players after the cuts. Perhaps the highest profile name in the list of eight contracts declined is defender Djimi Traore.

Traore is joined by goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and Josh Ford, defenders Onyekachi Apam and Jalil Anibaba, and forwards Cam Weaver, Tristan Bowen, Sean Okoli and Eriq Zavaleta as the players on their way out of Seattle. Okoli was a Sounders Homegrown signing while Zavaleta just recently graduated from the Generation Adidas Program. Anibaba is out of contract with the club.

“In our league, it’s a consistent challenge to keep successful teams together, and these types of decisions are always difficult,” Adrian Hanauer, Sounders FC owner and general manager, said in a team release.

Here are some more stories from around MLS:

DYNAMO SIGN SIXTH HOMEGROWN PLAYER

The Houston Dynamo continue to look to their academy for the team’s next crop of players.

The Dynamo announced on Thursday that they have signed Jose “Memo” Rodriguez to a Homegrown contract, making him the sixth Homegrown player that’s signed with the club. Rodriguez, who trained with the Dynamo first team both last season and this year, is an 18-year-old midfielder and the 2012 and 2013 Academy Players’ Player of the year. He has started in three games in the MLS Reserves.

“Signing a contract with the Dynamo is a dream come true,” Rodriguez said in a club release. “I know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I am devoted to becoming the best professional soccer player I can be. I am happy to stay here in Houston and that my family will be able to come see me play when I gain playing time.”

Rodriguez joins fellow midfielders Alex Dixon, Francisco Navas Cobo, and Josue Soto, as well as goalkeeper Tyler Deric and forward Bryan Salazar as Dynamo academy graduates.

MASTROENI TO SPEND TIME LEARNING AT ‘BORO

Colorado Rapids head coach and former player Pablo Mastroeni is looking abroad for some new ideas to take his team forward.

Mastroeni is spending time with English club Middlesbrough over the next few days, linking up with manager and former teammate Aitor Karanka. The two will share ideas as Mastroeni takes in some Middlesbrough practices, according to a Rapids media release.

Karanka, who also served as an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, currently has Middlesbrough sitting fifth in the Championship, England’s second tier league. He played 27 games for Colorado back in 2006.

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What do you think of these reports? Surprised at any of the Sounders cuts? Do you see any of them ending up elsewhere in MLS? What do you think of the Dynamo’s Homegrown signing?

Share your thoughts below.