2026 Major League Pickleball Trade Tracker: Every Move, Trade, and Roster Change

The offseason in Major League Pickleball has become just as exciting as the matches themselves. With teams constantly looking to improve their rosters and create the perfect chemistry on the court, trades and player movements have become a critical part of the league’s ecosystem. As we move through 2026, the trade windows are open and teams are making significant moves that will shape the competitive landscape for the season ahead.

This comprehensive tracker will serve as your go-to resource for every roster change, trade, and transaction that happens throughout the 2026 MLP season. Whether you’re a die-hard fan who follows every lineup decision or someone trying to keep up with which players are on which teams, this article will be continuously updated as news breaks. Bookmark this page and check back frequently as the trade windows open and close throughout the year.

Understanding the MLP Trade System: A Primer for New Fans

If you’re relatively new to following Major League Pickleball at the professional level, the trade system might seem confusing at first. Unlike recreational pickleball where you simply show up and play with whoever is available, professional league pickleball operates much like other major sports leagues with structured rosters, contracts, and trade windows.

Each MLP team maintains a roster of six players, typically consisting of three men and three women. This balanced roster structure is crucial because MLP matches include men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles formats. Teams need depth and versatility across all three disciplines to be competitive throughout a season.

The trade system exists to allow teams to improve their rosters, address weaknesses, and create better chemistry between players. Some players simply work better together on the court, and trades allow teams to pursue those partnerships. Additionally, trades can involve cash considerations, which gives teams financial flexibility to make moves during draft periods or acquire players they might not otherwise be able to get.

Trade windows are specific periods during the year when teams are allowed to make these roster changes. Outside of these windows, rosters are generally locked, which prevents constant upheaval and allows teams to build continuity. The league announces these windows well in advance so teams can plan their strategies accordingly.

2026 MLP Season Trade Windows and Important Dates

The structure of the 2026 season includes designated trade windows that give teams opportunities to reshape their rosters at strategic points throughout the year. The first trade window of 2026 runs from January 28 through February 15, closing at 10pm on that final day. This timing is deliberate, occurring after teams have had time to evaluate their rosters from the previous season but before the new season gets fully underway.

These trade windows are critical periods for team management. General managers and ownership groups spend weeks evaluating potential moves, reaching out to other teams, and negotiating deals. The dynamics can be fascinating because unlike individual tour events where players compete as individuals or with chosen partners, MLP teams have to think about overall roster construction and how different players complement each other across multiple match formats.

The January-February window is particularly important because it represents the first opportunity for teams to make major changes after the previous season concluded. Teams that underperformed are looking to upgrade, championship contenders are trying to get even stronger, and everyone is trying to predict which player combinations will have the best chemistry when competition begins.

The First Trade of 2026: LA Mad Drops and Chicago Slice Make a Deal

On January 30, the first significant trade of the 2026 season was announced, involving two teams with very different trajectories and needs. The LA Mad Drops acquired Max Freeman from the Chicago Slice, while Chicago received Hunter Johnson along with cash considerations in return.

This trade represents the kind of move that can alter the complexion of both teams heading into the season. For LA, bringing in Max Freeman addresses a specific need and preference from their star player Ben Johns, widely considered one of the best players in the sport. For Chicago, the return of Hunter Johnson plus financial assets gives them flexibility and resources to continue building their roster.

The inclusion of cash considerations in the trade is particularly noteworthy. This financial component gives Chicago additional resources they can deploy in future moves, whether that means making trades later in the season or having more capital to work with during player drafts. In a league where talent is relatively concentrated among a smaller pool of elite players, having financial flexibility can be the difference between landing an impact player or missing out.

Analyzing the LA Mad Drops’ Acquisition of Max Freeman

The updated LA Mad Drops roster now features Ben Johns, Catherine Parenteau, Jade Kawamoto, Max Freeman, Mehvish Safdar, and Wes Burrows. This is a formidable lineup on paper, but the acquisition of Max Freeman is particularly strategic for several specific reasons.

Ben Johns has demonstrated throughout his career that he has strong preferences about who he partners with, and those preferences are based on both playing style and the strategic advantages certain partnerships create. Freeman represents one of the handful of players that Johns feels comfortable playing alongside, which in itself makes this trade valuable. When you have a player of Johns’ caliber, keeping him happy and ensuring he has the partners he wants is essential to team success.

The right-handed and left-handed combination that Freeman and Johns can create is particularly significant. This pairing echoes the success Johns experienced during the 2023 season with the Seattle Pioneers when he played alongside Tyler Loong, another lefty. The righty-lefty combination creates strategic advantages on the court, particularly in terms of court coverage and shot selection. Both players can hit forehands from the middle of the court, which is generally a stronger shot than backhands for most players, and the angle diversity this creates can be difficult for opponents to consistently handle.

However, this move does create some roster complexity for LA. With Freeman playing on the men’s side, one of the women on the roster will need to play the left side in mixed doubles when paired with Freeman. This isn’t necessarily a disadvantage, but it does require strategic thinking about lineups and which player combinations work best in different situations. The coaching staff will need to experiment during practice and early-season matches to determine which mixed doubles pairings are most effective.

Chicago Slice’s Return and Strategic Repositioning

The Chicago Slice roster following the trade includes James Ignatowich, Hunter Johnson, Vivian Glozman, Callie Smith, Carlos Di Laura, and Pierina Imparato. At first glance, this appears to be a solid roster, but there’s a significant complication that impacts Chicago’s immediate outlook.

Both Vivian Glozman and James Ignatowich had their contracts with United Pickleball Association terminated in late 2025 following their participation in an unsanctioned event. This contract termination creates uncertainty about their eligibility to compete on an MLP roster, at least in the immediate term. The situation highlights the complex relationships between different professional pickleball organizations and how player movements between tours and leagues can create eligibility complications.

Despite this roster uncertainty, the trade makes strategic sense for Chicago from a rebuilding perspective. Acquiring Hunter Johnson gives them a talented player who can contribute immediately, and more importantly, the cash considerations provide valuable flexibility. For a team that may need to make additional moves given the Ignatowich and Glozman situation, having extra financial resources is crucial.

The cash can be deployed in multiple ways. Chicago could use it to make additional trades if other players become available, or they could leverage it during draft periods to move up and select high-priority prospects. In a league where teams are constantly evaluating the cost-benefit analysis of different roster moves, having financial ammunition provides options that teams without those resources simply don’t have.

The Broader Strategic Implications of Trade Window Activity

This first trade of 2026 sets an interesting precedent for what we might see throughout the remainder of the trade window and into future windows later in the year. The willingness of teams to include cash considerations shows that MLP franchises are thinking creatively about how to structure deals and build rosters.

One of the fascinating aspects of MLP roster construction is the balancing act between star power and depth. Teams need marquee players who can win crucial matches, but they also need reliable secondary options who can contribute when called upon. The six-player roster format means everyone gets playing time, so there’s no such thing as a pure bench player who never sees the court. Every member of the roster matters.

The chemistry factor cannot be overstated in team pickleball. Unlike individual tournaments where players might switch partners frequently, MLP teams practice together, develop specific strategies, and build familiarity over time. A player who might be exceptional in individual tour events could struggle in the team format if they don’t mesh well with their assigned partners. Conversely, players who might not have the highest individual rankings can become incredibly valuable in MLP if they’re versatile and work well within team structures.

As we progress through the 2026 season, it will be fascinating to see whether other teams follow LA’s approach of catering to star player preferences, or if we see more rebuilding moves similar to Chicago’s strategy of accumulating assets and flexibility. The diversity of approaches reflects the relative youth of MLP as a league and the ongoing process of teams figuring out the optimal strategies for building championship rosters.

What Makes a Successful MLP Trade?

Evaluating trades in Major League Pickleball requires different criteria than you might use for trades in other sports. The small roster sizes mean every move has significant impact, and the multiple match formats mean teams need to think about how players fit across different disciplines.

A successful trade from the acquiring team’s perspective accomplishes at least one of several objectives. It might address a specific weakness in the roster, such as a team that struggles in women’s doubles adding a top female player. It could create better chemistry by pairing players who have demonstrated success together in other settings. It might add versatility by bringing in a player who can perform well in multiple formats. Or it could simply be about adding star power and name recognition that helps the team market itself to fans.

From the trading team’s perspective, success might look different. Sometimes a team trades a good player not because they want to, but because they need to free up resources or accommodate the preferences of another player they want to keep. Other times, as we see with Chicago in this trade, the return of assets like cash considerations or future draft picks can be more valuable than retaining the player, especially if the team is in a rebuild mode.

The LA-Chicago trade appears to be one of those mutually beneficial situations where both teams got what they needed. LA addressed Ben Johns’ partner preferences and created a potentially dominant men’s doubles pairing, while Chicago gained resources they can use to continue reshaping their roster given the complications with Ignatowich and Glozman. Neither team obviously lost the trade, which is often the hallmark of a well-negotiated deal.

Looking Ahead: What to Watch for in Future Trades

With the first trade window remaining open until February 15, there’s still plenty of time for more activity. Several factors could drive additional moves before the window closes.

Teams that feel they’re close to championship contention may look to make one more upgrade to put them over the top. The addition of a single high-level player can dramatically change a team’s prospects, and general managers who believe they’re one piece away from a title won’t want to wait for future trade windows if they can make a move now.

Conversely, teams that look at their rosters realistically and see a rebuilding situation may decide to trade veteran players for younger prospects or cash considerations. Getting ahead of a rebuild rather than trying to compete with an inadequate roster can save time and resources in the long run.

The ripple effects from this first trade could also create opportunities for subsequent moves. When one trade happens, it changes the landscape for other potential deals. A team that was previously unwilling to trade a certain player might reconsider if they see an opportunity to acquire someone who just became available due to another team’s trade. The domino effect in trade markets is real, and one significant move often triggers several others.

Player preferences will continue to be a major factor. If other star players see that Ben Johns was able to get the partner he wanted through a trade, they may push their own teams to make similar moves. In a player-driven league where the top talents have significant leverage, accommodating player preferences is often a necessary part of team management.

Why This Matters for MLP Fans

If you’re invested in following Major League Pickleball, understanding the roster moves and trades is essential to appreciating the strategic depth of the league. The matches themselves are exciting, but knowing the backstory of how teams were constructed and why certain players are paired together adds another layer of engagement.

These trades also provide insight into which teams are genuinely trying to compete for championships and which are in different phases of their organizational development. A team making aggressive moves to acquire talent is signaling that they believe they can win now. A team trading veterans for assets is acknowledging that they need time to rebuild but are planning for future success.

For fans of specific players, trades determine where you’ll need to focus your attention when watching matches. If your favorite player moves to a new team, you’ll want to understand their new teammates, the team’s overall strategy, and how their role might change in a new environment. The human element of players adjusting to new teams and building chemistry with new partners creates compelling storylines throughout the season.

The transparency of having a public trade tracker like this also reflects MLP’s understanding that engaged fans want to follow the league year-round, not just during tournament periods. By making trade information accessible and providing analysis about the implications of roster moves, the league builds deeper connections with its audience and creates more touchpoints for fan engagement.

Conclusion: A Season of Change and Opportunity

The 2026 MLP season is already shaping up to be one of significant roster movement and strategic repositioning. The first trade between LA and Chicago sets the tone for what could be an active trade period, with teams across the league evaluating their options and looking for ways to improve.

As the season progresses and additional trade windows open, we’ll continue to track every move, providing analysis and context for what each transaction means for the teams involved and the league as a whole. The dynamic nature of MLP rosters keeps things interesting and ensures that the offseason is nearly as engaging as the competition itself.

Whether you’re a longtime follower of professional pickleball or someone just beginning to understand the intricacies of team play at the highest level, keeping up with these roster moves will enhance your appreciation for the sport and the strategic thinking that goes into building championship teams. Check back regularly as this trade tracker grows throughout 2026, documenting every significant move that shapes the competitive landscape of Major League Pickleball.