The off-season has been busy for the teams in Major League Soccer with players moving in and players moving out. This is the first part of a three-part look at the league's transactions. Today I'll be taking a look at the teams on the East Coast and how they stack up for the upcoming season.

Besides a simple 'IN' and 'OUT' look for players, I'll be using the terms 'Minutes XI Returning' and 'Minutes Gameday 18 Returning'.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

Santino Quaranta likely deserved a less abrupt end to his playing career. Instead, he is getting an unprecedented chance at a new beginning.

After not being offered a new contract with D.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

The U.S. women's national team won 14-0 over the Dominican Republic on Friday. Yes, the women's soccer team won by that score. Amy Rodriguez scored five goals.

At halftime, Abby Wambach told her teammates to keep scoring in the Olympic qualifier, despite being up 7-0, because goal differential can impact Olympic qualifying qualifying.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

The U.S. women's national team won 14-0 over the Dominican Republic on Friday. Yes, the women's soccer team won by that score. Amy Rodriguez scored five goals.

At halftime, Abby Wambach told her teammates to keep scoring in the Olympic qualifier, despite being up 7-0, because goal differential can impact Olympic qualifying qualifying.

Photo by Jose L. Argueta/ISIphotos.com

By AVI CREDITOR

The majority of D.C. United's offseason roster questions have not fully been answered, and as the club's preseason got underway with the first day of training on Wednesday, it is clear that there is plenty to be done before the team takes its final shape.

While the transfer window in Europe opens up in less than 48 hours, Major League Soccer teams have been busy since the season ended, rebuilding and retooling for next season. Here is a team-by-team look at what each side has done so far this offseason. Who has had the best offseason?

Chicago Fire

IN: G Jay Nolly (12/5: trade from Vancouver); F Kheli Dube (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/New England)

OUT: F Christian Nazarit (12/7: option declined); F Gabriel Ferrari (12/7: option declined); G Alec Dufty (12/12: option declined); M Baggio Husidic(12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Colorado); G Jon Conway (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy)

Chivas USA

IN: M Ryan Smith (11/21: trade from Sporting KC); D James Riley (11/23: from Seattle, via trade from Montreal); M Arturo Alvarez (12/5: Re-Entry Stage 1/RSL); M Oswaldo Minda(12/21: SD Quito)

OUT: F Justin Braun (11/23: trade to Montreal); M Gerson Mayen (11/23: trade to Montreal); D Zarek Valentin (11/23: expansion draft); MPaulo Nagamura (11/29: trade to Sporting KC); D Andrew Boyens (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy); F Chukwudi Chujindu (12/12: option declined); M Simon Elliott (12/12: out of contract); G Zach Thornton (12/12: option declined); D Mariano Trujillo (12/12: option declined)

Colorado Rapids

IN: M Baggio Husidic (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chicago); D Hunter Freeman (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Houston)

OUT: M Sanna Nyassi (11/23: expansion draft); D Mike Holody (12/12: option declined); MBaggio Husidic (12/23: free/Hammarby)

Columbus Crew

IN: D Carlos Mendes (12/5: Re-Entry Stage 1/New York); G Matt Lampson (12/15: Home Grown)

OUT: D Josh Gardner (11/23: expansion draft); M Santiago Prim (11/23: waived); D Dejan Rusmir (11/23: waived); F Andrés Mendoza(12/6: option declined); M Kevin Burns (12/12: option declined); F Jeff Cunningham (12/12: option declined)

DC United

IN: D Robbie Russell (11/29: trade from RSL)

OUT: M Santino Quaranta (12/7: retired); DMarc Burch (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Seattle); MClyde Simms (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/New England); M Brandon Barklage (12/12: option declined); G Steve Cronin (12/12: option declined); F Joseph Ngwenya (12/12: option declined); D Jed Zayner (12/12: option declined); D Devon McTavish (12/22: retired)

FC Dallas

IN:

OUT: D Edson Edward (11/23: waived); DJeremy Hall (11/29: trade to Toronto); F Maykel Galindo (12/12: option declined); F Maicon Santos (12/12: option declined); M Marvin Chávez (12/16: trade to San Jose)

Houston Dynamo

IN: M Nathan Sturgis (12/29: trade from Toronto)

OUT: F Brian Ching (11/23: expansion draft); MFrancisco Navas Cobo (11/23: waived); G Evan Newton (11/23: waived); F Carlo Costly (11/24: option declined); D Hunter Freeman (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Colorado); F Jason Garey (12/12: option declined); D Eddie Robinson (12/12: option declined)

LA Galaxy

IN: D Andrew Boyens (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chivas USA); D Chris Leitch (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/San Jose); F Pat Noonan (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Seattle); G Jon Conway (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chicago); M Marcelo Sarvas(12/13: free/Alajuelense); M Jose Villarreal(12/22: Home Grown)

OUT: D Gregg Berhalter (12/9: retired);G Donovan Ricketts (11/28: trade to Montreal Impact)

Montreal Impact

IN: D Nelson Rivas (10/3: free/Inter Milan, Italy); G Evan Bush (10/21: NASL Impact); D Sinisa Ubiparipovic (11/1: NASL Impact); M Hassoun Camara (11/3: NASL Impact); D Jeb Brovsky (11/23: expansion draft); D Bobby Burling (11/23: expansion draft); F Brian Ching (11/23: expansion draft); D Josh Gardner (11/23: expansion draft); M Justin Mapp (11/23: expansion draft); M Sanna Nyassi (11/23: expansion draft); D James Riley(11/23: expansion draft); D Seth Sinovic (11/23: expansion draft); M Collen Warner (11/23: expansion draft); D Zarek Valentin (11/23: expansion draft); F Justin Braun (11/23: trade from Chivas USA); M Gerson Mayen (11/23: trade from Chivas USA); D Tyson Wahl (11/23: trade from Seattle Sounders); M Bryan Arguez(11/25: free/Ft.

STARTERS
Abby Wambach was named the AP Female Athlete of Year. Huge congrats to her.
DU NORD AT THE CONTROLS
du Nord at the Controls - Tue Dec 20, 2011 - new music mix at Spotify
STORY OF THE DAY
Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph reports that Liverpool forward Luis Suarez has been suspended for 8 games and fined $70K for directing racial slurs at Man United Patrice Evra earlier this season.

Round 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft will conclude shortly around 1:00 PM CST today. All four of the top targets in Gregg Mixdorf's original article are off the board. Bobby Convey was traded to Sporting Kansas City. Chivas USA selected Arturo Alvarez and his ridiculous salary in Round 1 of the Re-Entry Draft.

Photo by Brad Smith/ISIPhotos.com

By THOMAS FLOYD

Fans expecting their team to nab that missing piece of the MLS Cup puzzle in the Re-entry Draft on Monday shouldn't get their hopes up.

Last year, clubs used the mechanism to bolster their rosters with the likes of Juan Pablo Angel, Josh Wolff, Jimmy Conrad and Cory Gibbs.

You'd think footballers have it all, but as Santino Quaranta's salary surprisingly reminded us, pay scales weren't created equal and thus, MLS players probably don't have it all.

When it comes to everyday household items like whisks and serving trays, 'ballers everywhere should leave the heavy clicking to their better halves, just like New England's Benny Feilhaber seems to have smartly done with his fiancé, Michele.

It seems Santino Quaranta grew up before our eyes. An impetuous, young player from Baltimore, Tino first won our hearts as a 16-year-old draftee in 2001. His tone was brash, his actions passionate and his play was daring. We loved every minute of it.

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Dec 6, 2011) US Soccer Players -- In today's edition, Tony asks about goals in Columbus, looks at an already productive MLS youth development academy, and follows up on the suite business in Major League Soccer. What former US National Team and DC United midfielder retired last week?

Their Words As a soccer player, you're expected to push it until you're 33, 34 years old. That's not me. This is it. My gut and heart were telling me, and I'm at peace with it. Santino Quaranta, speaking to The Washington Post's Steven Goff about his retirement announcement. Other Sources Tijuana want to be SoCal's team - from MLSsoccer.

By AVI CREDITOR

Don't expect to be wowed by the second edition of the MLS Re-Entry Draft now that most of the big names initially available are off the table.

Between Bobby Convey being traded to Sporting Kansas City, Bobby Boswell re-signing with the Houston Dynamo, Ante Jazic re-signing with Chivas USA and Santino Quaranta retiring, the quality of the draft pool has dropped immensely.

Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

We've seen the last of Santino Quaranta as a professional soccer player.

Quaranta has called it a career after 11 seasons in MLS, according to the Washington Post. Feeling that there's nothing left to accomplish, Quaranta ends his time as a player with 27 goals and 29 assists in 180 MLS matches and 15 caps and one goal for the U.

Join the guys in the final episode of 2011. They look back at D.C. United's most recent player moves and look ahead to 2012. They also talk about the MLS Cup and the moves made by the expansion Monteral Impact.

STARTERS
The Mexican Semifinals start tonight.
DU NORD AT THE CONTROLS
du Nord at the Controls - Tue Nov 29, 2011 - new music mix at Spotify.
STORY OF THE DAY
High quality MLS branded Foosball table!
TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS
Brian Sciaretta of Yanks Abroad talks to Fabian Johnson about playing for his new international team.

Their Words It's disappointing. Done deal, see you later. It's puzzling. It hurts. You put so much into your organization. ‘D.C. United' were the first words my [2 1/2-year-old] son learned. Santino Quaranta, speaking to The Washington Post's Steven Goff. Other Sources Soccer fan Obama makes call to MLS champs - from USA Today's Aamer Madhani: but this was the first time a sitting president has called to congratulate a cup-winning coach, according to the.

Philadelphia Union declined contract options for midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi and goalkeeper Chase Harrison, leaving each out of contract and available for election in Major League Soccer's Re-Entry Draft.

Miglioranzi, 34, is one of two remaining Union originals selected in the Expansion Draft in November 2009, along with Sebastien Le Toux.

DC United did not exercise the option on Santino Quaranta's contract, leaving the long time DC United player out in the cold.

Photo by Tony Quinn/ISIphotos.com

By FRANCO PANIZO

Andres Mendoza may have scored 13 goals in his first full season in MLS, but that didn't stop him from being let go by the Columbus Crew.

At times the subject of controversy due to his behavior, Mendoza was among the players whose options were declined by Columbus on Tuesday.

Major League Soccer released the official list of players left unprotected for the 2011 Expansion Draft. D.C. United left 11 players unprotected including veterans Steve Cronin and Santino Quaranta.
According to the press release from MLS - each current MLS club has had the opportunity to protect 11 players from their 2011 roster.

DC United has a very young roster that Ben Olsen will try to save. (Getty Images)

Moving on today in the expansion draft lists, I really wanted to get to this one yesterday but ran out of time.

DC United just missed out on the playoffs this season. Injuries and poor form down the stretch really hurt them when it mattered most.

Sporting KC didn't have to rely on other results, KC took care of business themselves, beating DC 1-0 and earning themselves the top spot in the Eastern Conference. KC started an unchanged lineup from the one that clinched a playoff spot vs New York. KC once again had the early pressure creating some decent chances, the best of which was a cross that Omar Bravo ran onto in the fourth minute.

I was at RFK Stadium last night. I was at RFK Stadium last year when the Fire won on the backs of two goals after the 80th minute. I certainly did not expect to see a repeat two-late-goal performance after Dwayne De Rosario converted his 89th minute penalty kick. A fairly blah game turned into a story for the ages when Sebastian Grazzini scored a scorcher of a goal and Diego Chaves finished D.

By JOSE M. ROMERO

On the outside looking in for a playoff spot to begin the night, the climb toward the MLS postseason got a little steeper for D.C. United.

The Vancouver Whitecaps played spoiler Wednesday night at B.C. Place Stadium, holding on for a 2-1 victory thanks to strong defensive play for 56 minutes, another goal for leading scorer Camilo and the first career MLS goal for forward Long Tan.

By JOEY SAMUEL

CHESTER, Pa.--In the ever-changing Eastern Conference playoff race, the Philadelphia Union have become the latest team to post a statement win.

A night after Sporting Kansas City made their intentions of winning the East clear with a 2-1 win over Columbus, the Union responded by defeating bitter rivals D.

By AVI CREDITOR

WASHINGTON -- Juan Pablo Angel's resurgent night nearly got offset by a questionable decision at the worst possible time for Chivas USA.

That is until Dan Kennedy came to the rescue.

The Chivas USA goalkeeper saved a Dwayne De Rosario penalty kick in stoppage time, and Angel scored twice in the second half to lift Chivas USA out of a two-goal hole and carry the Goats to a 2-2 draw with D.

Neither the Seattle Sounders nor DC United will be going into the Saturday 6PM match will have their preferred XI. DC lost DP Branko Boscovic early in the year and Chris Pontius just last week. For the Sounders Sigi Schmid isn't used to picking his first choice. With significant injuries marring most of the year, intermittent injuries popping up and the packed schedule the lineup shifts are so frequent they aren't surprising.

If the Seattle Sounders have an East Coast rival it would be DC United. The origins are from the strong words that the two front offices made leading up to the 2009 US Open Cup Final. The interaction between the two blogs on the network have been nearly as vicious as the games on the pitch. Although the crew at Black and Red United have never stomped on my stomach.

Mike Woitalla of Soccer America writes of the age and size (or lack of) in the modern midfielders.
A player who still needs a ride to practice from his parents scored his first Major League Soccer goal earlier this month. Diego Fagundez, who turned at 16 last Valentine's Day, made his MLS debut as a 66th minute sub and scored 20 minutes later against Chivas USA.

The Chicago Fire have fallen into a predictable pattern, regardless of the ever-changing crew of personnel wearing the team's jersey.

Josh Wolff cancelled out Sebastian Grazzini's opener with a somewhat controversial equalizer, and D.C. United played the Chicago Fire to a 1-1 draw at Toyota Park Thursday night.

Photo by Daveblog

In the land of draws, the Chicago Fire are kings.

Last night, La Maquina Roja looked well on their way to their third win of the season after dominating DC United at home for about 70 minutes. Sebastian Grazzini had given the home side the lead early in the second half and United's attack looked spent.

Last Saturday, D.C. United gutted out a 2-0 at San Jose. Dwayne De Rosario's two second half goals gave D.C. a lead in a frustrating game for both teams. It was only after Andy Najar was sent off for a professional foul that San Jose seized the initiative, but a committed rear-guard performance saw D.

- Dwayne De Rosario is the best kind of All-star, the inactive kind. He'll be recognized as one of the league's top performers, get a nice little bonus, but won't have to miss any D.C. practices to go play an exhibition game. Which is certainly a good thing as he has only been with his current teammates for about a month now.

- Dwayne De Rosario is the best kind of All-star, the inactive kind. He'll be recognized as one of the league's top performers, get a nice little bonus, but won't have to miss any D.C. practices to go play an exhibition game. Which is certainly a good thing as he has only been with his current teammates for about a month now.

LINEUPUSA: 1-Tim Howard, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), 4-Michael Bradley, 6-Steve Cherundolo, 8-Clint Dempsey, 10-Landon Donovan, 13-Jermaine Jones, 14-Eric Lichaj, 20-Freddy Adu, 21-Clarence Goodson, 22-Alejandro Bedoya
Subs: 2-Jonathan Spector, 7-Maurice Edu, 9-Juan Agudelo, 12-Jonathan Bornstein, 15-Tim Ream, 16-Sacha Kljestan, 23-Marcus Hahnemann
LINEUP NOTES

• The U.

Steve Cherundolo celebrates with the RFK faithful on Oct. 14, 2009.
The U.S. Men will be playing their 21st game at RFK Stadium on Sunday, the most of any venue other than the Los Angeles Coliseum which has also hosted the MNT 21 times. The U.S. history there dates to 1977, and the most recent appearance was a 2-2 tie with Costa Rica on Oct.

By AVI CREDITOR

WASHINGTON --Vurnon Anita's goal in the 87th minute broke a 1-1 tie and gave Dutch champion Ajax a 2-1 victory over D.C. United in an international club friendly in front of 10,728 at RFK Stadium Sunday evening.

Anita took on rookie defender Ethan White, cut back to his left foot and tucked his low shot from inside the area inside the far post

D.

It is obviously challenging for a player to move from the youth ranks to the professional level, and where there are more examples of this happening now in Major League Soccer than ever before, there is certainly ups and downs with this process.
Steven Goff of the Washington Post writes of the challenges that young phenom Andy Najar is facing in his second season with DC United.