Major League Pickleball Teams Forced to Cut Players: Major League Pickleball (MLP) teams completed several trades as they prepared for the upcoming player retention deadline on February 16. With each team required to drop at least one player before the March draft, multiple roster moves were made at the Premier and Challenger levels before the trade window closed on February 15.
Roster Changes in the Premier Level
The Columbus Sliders added Andrei Daescu to their team, strengthening their lineup ahead of the upcoming season. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Flames acquired Jay Devilliers, along with cash considerations, as they continue to shape their roster.
Challenger Level Teams Make Key Acquisitions
The Brooklyn Aces secured Blaine Hovenier in a trade that also included cash considerations. The Las Vegas Night Owls made two separate moves, acquiring Pablo Tellez in one trade and Chris Haworth—along with cash considerations—in another. The California Black Bears also strengthened their squad by trading for Rafa Hewett.
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Updated Team Rosters After Trades
Following these moves, team rosters now include:
- Columbus Sliders (Premier): Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, Callie Smith, Parris Todd
- Phoenix Flames (Premier): Jay Devilliers, Meghan Dizon, Jessie Irvine, Tyson McGuffin
- Brooklyn Aces (Challenger): Danie De La Rosa, Amanda Hendry, Blaine Hovenier, Andrea Koop
- California Black Bears (Challenger): Brandon French, Rafa Hewett, Lina Padegimaite, Layne Sleeth
- Las Vegas Night Owls (Challenger): Judit Castillo, Chris Haworth, Pablo Tellez, Chao Yi “Zoey” Wang
Impact and Next Steps
With the trade deadline now passed, teams must finalize their rosters by dropping at least one player before the February 16 deadline at 6 p.m. CT. The upcoming draft in early March will give teams another opportunity to rebuild and strengthen their lineups before the new season begins.
News in Brief: Major League Pickleball Teams Forced to Cut Players
Major League Pickleball teams made several trades before the February 16 roster deadline. Columbus, Phoenix, Brooklyn, California, and Las Vegas all acquired new players. Each team must release at least one player before Sunday’s cutoff, with a draft set for early March to finalize rosters.
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