BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Long-time Chicago Fire veterans Logan Pause and Chris Rolfe have opted out of Phase Two of the 2013 MLS Re-Entry Process set to be held Wednesday afternoon.
Both players had their 2014 options declined by the club last week but Fire head coach and Director of Soccer Frank Yallop indicated in Saturday’s Season Ticket Holder Town Hall that he and his staff were working to bring the pair back this season.
The second all-time leading scorer in club history, Rolfe tallied seven goals and two assists in 35 competitive matches for the Fire in 2013. Pause, who sits second in Fire history for most MLS (274) and competitive appearances (321), added 17 to his ledger last season.
While a deal isn’t done, the fact that both players have opted out of the process seems to indicate that’s close to happening.
In the Town Hall, Yallop said that the club was looking to negotiate the players’ salaries down with the view towards extending their stay with the Fire.
This isn’t without precedent with the club as the same scenario played out in December 2012 when longtime Fire left back Gonzalo Segares saw his option declined only to re-negotiate a contract before Phase One of last year’s Re-Entry Process.
