The Galaxy picked up the rights to four players in Monday's second-stage draft in Major League Soccer's re-entry process, and they have a week to reach an agreement with them.
Here's a quick look at the quartet:
ANDREW BOYENS
Who is he?Tall, somewhat clumsy defender with New Zealand national team experience has spent six seasons in MLS, starting 30 games over 2008-09 for New York. The 28-year-old center back started 10 games for Chivas USA last season but played in just one of 19 games from June 1 through Sept. 21.
2011 contract: $60,000, with Chivas USA.
Numbers: 12 games (10 starts, 909 minutes) with one goal in 2011; 70 games (63 starts) with two goals and an assist in six seasons with Toronto FC (2007-08), New York (2008-10) and Chivas (2011).
Says Bruce Arena: “Boyens is a player I've been following for years. A good teammate and a pretty solid center back who offers cover in the position.”
CHRIS LEITCH
Who is he? Veteran outside back, 32, who has lost a step -- and with it his job to younger, cheaper talent. He can play on either side at the back and provides needed cover on the right with Sean Franklin's situation still unclear. He's started more than 25 games three times in a 10-year career, the last in 2009, but ended 2011 by seeing action in just one of San Jose's final 13 games.
2011 contract: $106,050, with San Jose.
Numbers: 14 games (12 starts, 1,115 minutes) with one assist in 2011; 205 games (184 starts) with 14 assists in 10 seasons with Columbus (2002), MetroStars (2003-05), Columbus again (2006), New York again (2007-08) and San Jose (2009-11).
Says Bruce Arena: “Chris Leitch is a very experienced player -- I had him [when I was head coach] in New York. He's a player who can offer cover at right back and left back and also can play a little center back. He's an experienced player who can help our roster.”
PAT NOONAN
Who is he? Skillful forward who made a sizable impact during five seasons with the New England Revolution but has done little, in great part because of injuries, in five seasons since. The numbers are startling: With the Revs, he played in 136 games (116 starts) with 42 goals and 30 assists; elsewhere, it's 54 games (27 starts) with four goals and four assists. He scored 21 of goals with 15 assists in his first two seasons, which led to 15 appearances with the U.S. national team under Arena.
2011 contract: $48,000, with Seattle.
Numbers: 9 games (2 starts, 259 minutes) in 2011; 190 games (143 starts) in 10 seasons with New England (2003-07), Columbus (2008-09), Colorado (2009) and Seattle (2010-11).
Says Bruce Arena: “Pat Noonan is a player I've had in my years with the national team, a very good player. He's dealt with some injuries the last couple years. Hopefully, he can get himself back fit and into the kind of form that allows him to be a really good player. He's a player with a lot of experience in the league who has scored a lot of goals. If he's healthy, he can help our roster.”
JON CONWAY
Who is he? Veteran backup goalkeeper played behind Sean Johnson in Chicago last season, a role he's spent years perfecting. Conway, 34, has been a full-time starter just once in 12 MLS campaigns -- he got the call 28 times for New York in 2008. The Galaxy are happy with their two remaining goalkeepers, Josh Saunders and Brian Perk, so this is likely a No. 3 position.
2011 contract: $70,000, with Chicago.
Numbers: 6 games (6 starts, 540 minutes) with a 1.33 goals-against average and 0-2-4 record in 2011; 92 games (89 starts) with a 1.36 goals-against average and a 27-37-23 record in 12 seasons with San Jose (2000-05), New York (2006-09), Chivas USA (2009) and Toronto FC (2010) and Chicago (2011).
Says Bruce Arena: “I had him in New York. He's a solid goalkeeper. If he's healthy and in good form, he someone who gives us depth at the goalkeeper position.”