On December 14th at 3:00PM ET, the first stage of the MLS Re-entry Draft will begin.
There are three ways to end up with your name in the list of players eligible for the Re-entry Draft. First, players that are a) at least 23 years old, and b) have a minimum of three years of MLS service time, and c) have their option declined by their current club can be selected in Stage 1 of the draft and must be paid according to the salary they would have made had their option been picked up.
Second, players that are a) at least 25 years old, b) have at least four years of MLS service time, c) are out of contract, and d) are currently at a club that does not want to re-sign them can be selected provided that they are offered a deal that pays them at least as much as they made last season.