Toronto FC announce roster moves: Irwin, Ricketts out; loans to expire

Toronto FC announced major flurry of roster activity today, after the deadline for picking up contract options earlier this week. The club has chosen to exercise their option and retain goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell; defenders Ashtone Morgan, Drew Moor, Nick Hagglund, Julian Dunn and midfielders Jay Chapman, Ryan Telfer and Aidan Daniels.

Two Reds whose options were declined are, interestingly, forward Tosaint Ricketts and goalkeeper Clint Irwin. Both players will become free agents. Jason Hernandez and Jordan Hamilton’s contracts have expired as well.

TFC also announced that the loan deals of Auro Jr. and Lucas Janson will end as planned on December 31, although it's unclear whether that absolutely means both players will leave the club.

Finally, TFC have terminated Ager Aketxe contract, by mutual agreement. He'll probably remain in Spain.

Irwin made 32 appearances since joining TFC in 2016, backstopping them to the MLS Cup Final in that first year. Ricketts, who came to Toronto midway through that same year, scored 13 goals in 51 appearances, including one of the all-important extra time goals against the Montreal Impact in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final. The Edmonton native has been mentioned in Canadian Premier League rumours before, especially around his hometown FC Edmonton, but we'll see.

Shedding the large salaries of Irwin and Ricketts probably gives TFC a good deal more wiggle room when it comes to the transfer market this winter; they'd much rather be paying that combined $400,000 to a more regular starter.

Outside of the options they picked up, TFC have 14 other players under contract.