MLP Mid-Season Tournament: All the Roster Changes

After a crazy first waiver wire period in 2024, MLP has announced some roster changes ahead of the MLP Mid-Season Tournament, which starts Wednesday.

This event, which coincides with the amateur Beer City Open in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the only stand-alone MLP Mid-Season Tournament event in 2024. The other eight events are regular season events before the two playoff rounds.

In addition, money is on the line for this double-elimination tournament. Here are the prize payouts for the winning teams:

Prize Pool and Format for the MLP Mid-Season Tournament

Premier Level prize payouts (per team): the winner takes home $80k, second place earns $40k, and third place receives $20k.

Challenger Level prize payouts (per team): the winner earns $30k, second place receives $20k, and third place takes home $10k.

Injury concerns and scheduling conflicts have caused some MLP Mid-Season Tournament substitutions, both at the Premier and Challenger Levels.

Premier Level MLP Mid-Season Tournament Substitutions

Arizona Drive: AJ Koller Replaces Andrei Daescu

Arizona Drive makes a notable change as AJ Koller is substituting for Andrei Daescu. Daescu isn't allowed to play in the MLP Mid-Season Tournament due to his 60-day suspension for a foreign substance on his paddle. This is the only event he will miss due to that suspension.

AJ has been injured with a hamstring issue for most of the first half of 2024. He has one of the highest ceilings of any available player, but also has a super low floor.

If there is a time and place for a player like Koller's skillset, it's a one-time double elimination team tournament. I think either Patrick Kawka or Michael Loyd made more sense here with their ties to Arizona. However, if one or more of the players on the team wanted Koller, then it's a no brainer.

LA Mad Drops: Two Key MLP Mid-Season Tournament Substitutions

LA Mad Drops make two changes heading into Grand Rapids. Emily Cederquist is substituting for Catherine Parenteau. Blaine Hovenier is substituting for Thomas Wilson.

This is a scheduling conflict for Catherine Parenteau, as she is getting married to her partner, Athena Trouillot, during the event. Cederquist is the best available woman and she has a ton of MLP experience, making it a great pickup for LA. Congrats to CP and Athena in Cabo.

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As for Wilson, this is another scheduling conflict, but that's speculation. This will be a big test for Hovenier, who is playing MLP for the first time and at the Premier Level. I expect him to see a lot of the action as the first few teams are going to target him to see if he's up to the level.

Challenger Level Changes at the MLP Mid-Season Tournament

Several Challenger Level teams are also dealing with MLP roster substitutions heading into Grand Rapids. As covered in the MLP Challenger Level waiver wire additions, the moves made earlier this month set up a complicated substitution picture for multiple clubs.

California Black Bears: Michelle Esquivel Steps In

California Black Bears bring in Michelle Esquivel as a substitute for Susannah Barr. This is believed to be a scheduling conflict for Barr, although she just made herself available during the first waiver wire period.

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Esquivel is a veteran of the game and is extremely knowledgeable. She will play a steady right side with Brandon French and a solid left side with Amanda Hendry. She doesn't have a ton of power, but that's not really needed in this one-time substitution, because Hendry and French bring plenty of power.

Esquivel also just got drafted to Major League Pickleball Australia by the New Zealand Hustle.

Bay Area Breakers: Three Substitutions Create MLP Mid-Season Tournament Complications

The Bay Area Breakers have made some of the most confusing Major League Pickleball roster changes in the last two weeks. They did a great job of getting $100k and Allyce Jones for a rising Vivian Glozman. After that, they dropped Rachel Rettger for Jill Braverman.

Braverman is definitely an upgrade, but Rettger was the best statistical player in Challenger Level in 2024. Lastly, they dropped Patrick Kawka for an injured DJ Young, which may be the most confusing move of them all.

I thought maybe Kawka was injured and then replacing him with one of the best Challenger Level players in DJ Young would almost, kind of, make sense.

However, Kawka played in the APP Newport Beach Open with Will Howells, earning a silver medal, and is seemingly fully healthy.

So Bay Area dropped a healthy Kawka with the second-to-last pick of the waiver wire period to pick up DJ Young, who is going to be out another month or so with a wrist injury. Now, Bay Area could have up to three tournaments in a row where they have to replace Young, meaning they have to get a new person every time.

All of this means they are making three substitutions at the MLP Mid-Season Tournament in Grand Rapids. Technically, Rettger is in for Allyce Jones and Sam Parker is in for Braverman. However, in reality, one could argue Rachel Rettger is substituting in for the player she just got "permanently" replaced for (Braverman).

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall during those conversations. Jones missing the event is seemingly a scheduling conflict, but that is not confirmed.

Lastly, Bay Area is subbing Grayson Goldin for the injured Young. Instead of a proven Kawka, you get Goldin to partner with Collin Shick. Goldin is rising in the ranks for singles players and was top 10 in our most recent men's singles power rankings.

However, he is nowhere near the doubles player that Kawka is, so this is a downgrade. Although this Dreambreaker team is SCARY good.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MLP Mid-Season Tournament and how does it work?

The MLP Mid-Season Tournament is the only stand-alone team event in the 2024 Major League Pickleball season. It uses a double-elimination format, meaning teams must lose twice before being eliminated, and it takes place in Grand Rapids, Michigan alongside the amateur Beer City Open.

Why is Andrei Daescu missing the MLP Mid-Season Tournament?

Daescu is serving a 60-day suspension after a foreign substance was found on his paddle, which rules him out of this specific event. The MLP Mid-Season Tournament is the only event he will miss as a result of that suspension, and AJ Koller steps in to fill his spot on the Arizona Drive.

Why is Catherine Parenteau not playing for the LA Mad Drops at this event?

Catherine Parenteau is missing the event due to a scheduling conflict, as she is getting married to her partner, Athena Trouillot, during the tournament. Emily Cederquist, one of the best available players with significant MLP experience, takes her place for LA.

Why are the Bay Area Breakers making so many roster substitutions?

The Bay Area Breakers are dealing with a combination of injuries and prior roster decisions that left them without their strongest lineup. DJ Young is out with a wrist injury, Allyce Jones has a scheduling conflict, and Jill Braverman is unavailable, forcing three separate MLP Mid-Season Tournament substitutions on the same team.

Who is Grayson Goldin and what should fans expect from him at the MLP Mid-Season Tournament?

Grayson Goldin is a rising singles player who cracked the top 10 in men's singles power rankings, but he is stepping into a doubles-heavy team event for the first time. While he is not considered the doubles equivalent of the player he is replacing (Patrick Kawka), the Bay Area Breakers' Dreambreaker lineup remains a serious threat.