By Grant Brisbee, Tim Britton and Chad Jennings

Every week,​ we​ ask a selected group of our baseball​ writers​ — local and national — to rank the teams from first to worst. Here are the collective results.

This date has been marked on every baseball fan’s calendar since the start of spring training, and at last, it’s here.

The end-of-July Power Rankings!

Sure, the less astute fans will be distracted by Tuesday’s trade deadline, but here at Team Power Rankings, we know there are many ways to improve a ballclub. Let the front office barbarians swap one player for another. The more sophisticated set imagines improvements that are even better than a trade.

And besides, we’ve been power ranking for four months now, and we’re pretty sure we’ve got it down to a science. Make all the trades you want, baseball executives! I’m sure we can all agree, this 1 through 30 is perfect and unlikely to change in any way through the end of October.

Record: 65-41
Last Power Ranking: 1

Even better than a trade: A fully healthy J.T. Realmuto

Realmuto’s knee surgery in early June was a calculated decision: He had been playing through pain for weeks, and the hope was the surgery would allow him to return for the final stretch of the season feeling more like himself. Well, here we are, with Realmuto back in the middle of the order for the team with the National League’s best record.

The surface-level numbers belie just how valuable Realmuto is to the operation for Philadelphia. His right-handed bat lengthens the middle of the order — he’s batted second or fifth much of the year — and his presence behind the plate brings the best out of the pitching staff. Perhaps the clearest sign of his value is this: When Realmuto starts, Philadelphia is 37-19. When he doesn’t, it’s just 28-21. — Tim Britton

GO DEEPER

Why the Phillies chose Carlos Estévez over others and other takeaways from deadline trades

Record: 63-44
Last Power Ranking: 2

Even better than a trade: Jackson Holliday establishing himself as a major leaguer

According to Wins Above Average, the Orioles’ weakest position has been second base, where their five combined second basemen have been worth minus-0.4 WAA. Holliday contributed only 36 (mostly bad) plate appearances to that total, but he’s almost certainly the club’s future at the position.

There’s no time like the present, then, for Holliday to come up and start hitting for the next 10 to 20 seasons. He’s been hot in Triple A, with an on-base percentage over .400 in each of the last three months, and the opportunity is there with Jorge Mateo on the IL. The Orioles don’t want to rush him, and they don’t want to bring him up just to sit on the bench, but if they get No. 1 prospect-level production out of the No. 1 prospect in baseball, it’ll be the most obvious and welcome upgrade they could imagine. — Grant Brisbee

Record: 63-44
Last Power Ranking: 3

Even better than a trade: Vintage Clayton Kershaw

Pick your vintage of choice: This one tastes good from any year. Sure, the 2014 MVP vintage is the standout, but even last year’s came in with a sub-2.50 ERA. Only once, since 2009, has Kershaw posted an ERA above 3.03.

The collapse of LA’s rotation last year doomed it in an October sweep by the Diamondbacks. (OK, 2023 NLDS Kershaw is a vintage to avoid.) Kershaw is back now, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler to hopefully follow. Put that trio alongside Tyler Glasnow, and you’ve got the best playoff rotation in the National League. Start Gavin Stone in Game 2, and it’s a different story. — Britton

GO DEEPER

Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw returns with appreciation: ‘I’m not going to take it for granted’

Record: 64-42
Last Power Ranking: 4

Even better than a trade: One last ride with Carlos Carrasco

The Guardians have a great bullpen, but they need help in the rotation and wouldn’t say no to a little more offense (assuming they can afford it). You know what would be a really fun and rewarding way to partially address their rotation woes? Two resurgent months from 37-year-old Carrasco. He’s had good stretches this season — a 3.33 ERA in five starts from late June to mid-July — but his overall numbers aren’t good, and he’s a far cry from the guy who was a Cleveland rotation mainstay from 2014 to 2020. Eight good weeks from Carrasco would solve a short-term problem and perhaps leave a lasting final impression. — Chad Jennings

GO DEEPER

Guardians show they have ingredients for October, but they need help

Record: 63-45
Last Power Ranking: 5

Even better than a trade: The April/May version of Anthony Volpe

There are basically two months left in the season, and the Yankees need to improve their infield. You know who had a couple of really good months in the infield this season: The current Yankees shortstop. As of June 1, Volpe was ninth in the majors in fWAR, but his production has cratered so much that his season statistics look uncomfortably similar to disappointing second baseman Gleyber Torres. Get Volpe back to that early-season form at a time when Torres seems to be turning his season around, and the Yankees’ infield problems won’t seem quite so big. — Jennings

GO DEEPER

Want a reliever at MLB trade deadline? Be ready to pay: ‘It may take more than expected’

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Record: 61-45
Last Power Ranking: 6

Even better than a trade: Jackson Chourio filling the production void created when Christian Yelich went on the IL

Chourio has been fine, just fine. He’s been worth about 2 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference, and his .305 OBP is just a little below the league average. His 98 OPS+ would be the 18th-best from a 20-or-under player in the expansion era, and it’s comparable to what Manny Machado and Adrián Beltré did at the same age.

But if he wanted to go bananas and put up the same kind of numbers that Yelich did in his renaissance season, the Brewers wouldn’t mind. They gave him an eight-year deal (with two team options) before his major-league debut because they’re expecting that kind of production from him at some point. Might as well be now. — Brisbee

The Twins are in desperate need of a return to form from Pablo López. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

Record: 58-47
Last Power Ranking: 9

Even better than a trade: Pablo López continuing to turn his season around

From May 20 through June 18, López made six starts and allowed 28 runs in 29 2/3 innings. His problem was an acute case of dingeritis, with nine home runs allowed, and he made it into the sixth inning only once in those six starts.

Since then, López has made another six starts, with much better results, allowing 12 runs in 38 innings. It hasn’t been enough yet to make his ERA (4.73) pretty again, but he’s still limiting walks and striking out more than a batter per inning. In a post-Sonny Gray world, the Twins desperately need the best version of López. The early returns are good. — Brisbee

Record: 56-49
Last Power Ranking: 7

Even better than a trade: 2023 Matt Olson

One of the bigger mysteries this season is what’s happened to Olson, who finished fourth in the MVP balloting a season ago. This year, it’s been an across-the-board collapse: His batting average is down more than 50 points, his slugging percentage is down 200 points, he’s walking less than ever, striking out more than he has in several years, and is hitting below league-average against righties, whom he typically crushes.

Atlanta is already missing three regulars from last year’s offensive juggernaut. Ronald Acuña Jr. isn’t coming back, Ozzie Albies is out into September, and Michael Harris II won’t be back for a couple more weeks. The wild-card picture in the National League has tightened considerably; last week Atlanta dropped out of the top wild-card spot for the first time all season. Olson looking like even 80 percent of his ’23 self would be as big a gain as any club could receive this time of year. — Britton

GO DEEPER

MLB trade deadline roundup: All the deals from Thursday through Saturday

Record: 55-51
Last Power Ranking: 8

Even better than a trade: One-two punch to rejuvenate the rotation

Sure, getting Kyle Tucker off the IL will be huge, but how many teams are heading into the trade deadline even dreaming of acquiring a couple of starting pitchers like Justin Verlander and Luis García? Both are throwing off a mound and are expected to return from the IL in August. The Astros have dealt with significant pitching injuries this season — Kendall Graveman, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, Lance McCullers Jr. — but getting Verlander and García back in time for a down-the-stretch push into the playoffs could make Houston a real force come October. — Jennings

Record: 57-51
Last Power Ranking: 14

Even better than a trade: The right-here, right-now version of Xander Bogaerts

Since returning from his shoulder injury, Bogaerts has been scorching. Some guys dream of a .300/.400/.500 slash line; Bogaerts is running a .400/.500/.600 over the last two weeks. That’s quite a change from a guy whose OPS was below .600 when he went down.

A career year for Jurickson Profar, the rookie breakthrough of Jackson Merrill and the earlier addition of Luis Arraez already raised the ceiling of this San Diego offense. Bogaerts performing to his career norms, let alone what he’s been doing of late, could make it as potent as any in the senior circuit. And at the very least, it protects against regression from some of his teammates out over their skis. — Britton

GO DEEPER

Padres’ Dylan Cease throws second no-hitter in team history

Record: 58-49
Last Power Ranking: 10

Even better than a trade: Drew Waters finally sticks

A consensus top-100 prospect back in 2021, Waters made his big-league debut in 2022 and had an .803 OPS for the final month and a half. Brought back in early 2023, Waters could never sustain much production. This season, he’s been called up twice and each time was sent down after a few days. His Triple-A numbers, though, are good, and even a moderately productive outfield bat would help the Royals. It might help them stay in the race, or at the very least, it could help them maintain the strides they’ve made this season into the future. — Jennings

Record: 56-49
Last Power Ranking: 11

Even better than a trade: A fully operational Vaughn Grissom

Of all the guys on the IL, the greatest second-half impact might come from first baseman Triston Casas, and healthy versions of Justin Slaten and Chris Martin should help solve their bullpen issues. But in a trade market that seems fairly thin up the middle, the return of Grissom might exceed the impact the Red Sox could find elsewhere. They need a right-handed bat (check!) and middle-infield impact (check!). The only question is whether Grissom is ready to live up to his potential. He was one of the Red Sox’s biggest offseason acquisitions, and he’s played in only 23 games. The team could really use him, if they’re convinced he’s up to the task. — Jennings

Record: 56-52
Last Power Ranking: 12

Even better than a trade: Julio Rodríguez looking at a calendar

Rodríguez in the first half last season: .249/.310/.411, 13 homers
Rodríguez in the second half last season: .308/.363/.578, 19 homers

Rodríguez in the first half this season: .267/.318/.372, 10 homers
Rodríguez in the second half this season: ???

It’s not a great sign that he’ll be on the IL when August begins, but the Mariners have seen the Dr. Julio and Mr. Hyde routine before. The Mariners have been busy before the deadline, but it won’t mean much unless their all-world player is an all-world player again. — Brisbee

Record: 56-51
Last Power Ranking: 15

Even better than a trade: Finding the warlock who cursed Corbin Carroll, taking his amulet and throwing it into an active volcano

About once a week, I’ll remember that Carroll is having an absolutely ghastly season, and I’ll think something like, “Surely he’s turned it around by now,” before checking FanGraphs or Baseball-Reference and … nope. Since June 5, he’s posted a .778 OPS and is 11-for-12 on stolen bases, so it’s not as if he’s been a complete drag on the Diamondbacks’ ability to score runs lately.

He’s just not the Carroll who finished in fifth place in last season’s MVP voting. If the Diamondbacks can get 75 percent of that version, they’d be happy. But there’s no reason not to get greedy. We all know he can carry a team at his best. — Brisbee

[Editor’s note: Wait a minute. Did Grant will this into existence?]

Record: 56-50
Last Power Ranking: 16

Even better than a trade: The usual Pete Alonso

Through his first five years in the majors, Alonso has averaged 44 homers and 111 RBIs a season with an .870 OPS. (We’re extrapolating 2020, for the sticklers.) This year, the OPS is down below .800 and the pace is for 32 homers and 85 RBIs.

The Mets need more and, frankly, Alonso needs more. While New York’s offense has performed like gangbusters for a couple months, José Iglesias is only going to hit .380 for so long, and even Francisco Lindor probably can’t keep up the pace he’s set since late May. With free agency looming at the end of the season, a power push from Alonso can be worth tens of millions. There’s a big difference between Alonso as a 30-homer hitter and Alonso as a 45-homer hitter, as 2024 has made clear until now. — Britton

GO DEEPER

MLB trade deadline roundup: All the deals from Sunday

Record: 54-52
Last Power Ranking: 13

Even better than a trade: The Hall of Famers play like it

When you think about it, it’s not that huge a surprise that, say Gunnar Henderson has more home runs than Paul Goldschmidt or Nolan Arenado. He’s been a big-time prospect, a breakout was in the cards, hitting lefty at Camden Yards is still benefi— wait, sorry. Gunnar Henderson has more home runs than Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado? Combined? In July?

Yep, St. Louis’ Cooperstown couple has 27 homers between them at the trade deadline. Henderson isn’t even the only Baltimore Oriole with more than that on his lonesome. So if St. Louis is going to make a push to go worst-to-wild-card, it will need the real Goldschmidt and Arenado to show up. — Britton

Record: 54-52
Last Power Ranking: 17

Even better than a trade: Ke’Bryan Hayes figuring out right-handed pitchers

Last year’s NL Gold Glove winner at third base started the season relatively hot, with a .355 OBP in April, but he’s been an offensive sinkhole since. He has just five extra-base hits (all doubles) in 246 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers this year

It’s worth it for the Pirates to keep Hayes out there, as he’s under contract through 2029 at not-inexpensive rates. He doesn’t have to hit enough to win another Gold Glove. He just needs to be normal against right-handers. — Brisbee

Robbie Ray could be an important part of the Giants’ hopes for a postseason push. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

Record: 53-55
Last Power Ranking: 20

Even better than a trade: A huge finish from their Cy Young winner

No, not that one! (We’re just protecting ourselves for Wednesday’s readership if Blake Snell is moved.)

But Robbie Ray, owner of the 2021 American League Cy Young Award trophy, made his San Francisco debut last week with a gem. Ray has some similarities with Snell: The stuff speaks for itself from the left side, but it can be undercut when his command is gone. Ray doesn’t own Snell’s long track record of sterling second halves; having one this season, regardless of whether Snell is his teammate beyond this week, would go a long way toward a postseason push by the Bay. — Britton

GO DEEPER

Blake Snell trade scenarios: Ranking the teams who might have the most interest in him

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Record: 52-55
Last Power Ranking: 19

Even better than a trade: The Evan Carter of a year ago

The Rangers are somewhere in between. They have a losing record with unencouraging playoff odds, but they also have a talented roster with enough players coming off the IL (Jacob deGrom, Josh Jung, Tyler Mahle) to expect a bump down the stretch. Getting Carter back on the field would be huge. He made his big-league debut last September and became a crucial piece of their World Series run. His return from a back injury has been delayed, but if the Rangers can get such a good, young talent back on the field for the final month or so, it could help them this season and provide a lasting impact for the future. — Jennings

Record: 54-52
Last Power Ranking: 18

Even better than a trade: Let the Junior Caminero Era begin

The Rays have arguably been the most aggressive seller of the deadline so far. It started with Aaron Civale. Then Randy Arozarena. Then Zach Eflin. And they’ve just kept going, adding more and more young players as they shift their focus to the future. You know what would be a great get for a team trying to improve its prospect stockpile? The No. 3 prospect in baseball. But the Rays already have him in Caminero, who’s spent most of this season on the injured list but is healthy again — just in time to cement his status as a fixture of the Rays’ current and future infield. If you’re turning the page, you might as well start with one of the most talented young players in the sport. — Jennings

GO DEEPER

Payroll-shedding trades of Randy Arozarena and Zach Eflin in line with Rays’ philosophy

Record: 52-56
Last Power Ranking: 21

Even better than a trade: Colt Keith keeps going

Assuming a Spencer Torkelson emergence is too much to ask, and putting aside the potential for a Tarik Skubal long-term deal, it’s worth pointing out that rookie second baseman Keith has unlocked something in July. He signed a long-term deal in the offseason, made the Opening Day roster, and then struggled mightily out of the gate. He was good in May, then bad again in June, but he’s been legitimately excellent this month. Assuming the Tigers keep their trade deadline focus on the future, they could do a lot worse than solidifying an infield position with a productive homegrown player who’s already signed through 2032. — Jennings

Record: 51-57
Last Power Ranking: 22

Even better than a trade: Last summer’s Cody Bellinger

Bellinger’s 2024 season has been something we haven’t seen much of from him: fine. It’s resided within the extremes that he had embraced over the past several seasons, a season dedicated to neither MVP votes nor a negative WAR.

That’s not enough for these Cubs.

Chicago re-upped with Bellinger to have him as a lineup centerpiece — the No. 3 hitter on Opening Day. The cleanup hitter behind him that day was just traded, and the No. 5 hitter has an OBP that starts with a two. The Cubs’ offense, therefore, has been among the weakest in the National League. Last summer’s competitive resurgence corresponded with Bellinger’s best streak in years. Chicago’s aggressive additions at the deadline, while long-term in scope, suggest a belief that a run is possible in the mediocre NL over the next two months. — Britton

Record: 51-55
Last Power Ranking: 23

Even better than a trade: Getting Will Benson unstuck

Last season, Benson hit .275/.365/.498, with 11 home runs and 19 stolen bases. This year he’s hitting … not that. He’s unlikely to become anything other than a platoon player, but he’s not even hitting right-handers well, striking out in over 42 percent of his plate appearances against them. The Reds have bigger problems than the strong side of a platoon, but getting Benson to do anything would be a gift.

On a personal note, I would like to apologize to the Reds and their fans. Not only did I draft Benson, but I used him as the basis for my team’s name, which is statistically proven to be the kiss of death. Sorry. Sorry about that. — Brisbee

Record: 50-57
Last Power Ranking: 25

Even better than a trade: Getting the old Alejandro Kirk back

There are many reasons why the Blue Jays are the most disappointing team in baseball. Bo Bichette forgot how to hit. George Springer isn’t a middle-of-the-order bat anymore. Kevin Gausman is allowing more runs and striking out fewer batters. Kirk’s season has the potential to be the biggest disappointment of all, though. A 23-year-old catcher with a 127 OPS+ and positive defensive metrics is a franchise player; a 25-year-old catcher with a 74 OPS+ and positive defensive metrics is a player profile that grows on trees. There’s probably one on the waiver wire right now.

Kirk was an All-Star not that long ago, and he has the talent to be an All-Star again. If the Blue Jays want to be relevant in the near future, it’s hard to see how they do it without him. — Brisbee

Record: 49-58
Last Power Ranking: 24

Even better than a trade: Some hope for Keibert Ruiz

The key returns from the 2021 trade of Max Scherzer and Trea Turner are having a rough season in the Navy Yard. Josiah Gray went under the knife for Tommy John surgery, likely taking 2025 with him. And Ruiz, the first piece of this new core that Nats’ brass extended deep into the future, has only charitably been an everyday player behind the plate.

What do you hope for when you extend a player for as long as a decade? Ruiz started from a solid floor in March 2023 when he put pen to paper, coming off a full season of near league-average offensive production at a premium position that lacks that competence around the league. But in ’23 his defense regressed from tenable, as he became one of the league’s worst everyday defenders — and thus posted a negative WAR. He’s taken the same kind of step back with his bat this year, running some of the league’s worst walk and barrel rates. He’s signed for at least six more years, and already the modest deal looks underwater. — Britton

Record: 46-60
Last Power Ranking: 26

Even better than a trade: Better luck in the draft lottery

Look, a suddenly resurgent Anthony Rendon isn’t going to make the Angels a good baseball team. Neither is a healthy Mike Trout, and their farm system isn’t exactly loaded with on-the-verge prospects about to make a difference. Getting the Angels back to relevance feels like a lengthy process, so let’s start with a bit of luck in December. Last year, the Angels had the sixth-worst record, and the draft lottery handed them the No. 8 pick (which they used on Keith Law’s 37th-ranked draft prospect). The Angels are in line for the fifth-best odds for the top pick in 2025. Maybe the lottery will go a little more in their favor this time around. — Jennings

Record: 44-64
Last Power Ranking: 27

Even better than a trade: The rapid rise of Nick Kurtz

There are a lot of non-trade things that could help the A’s turn things around. A strong second half from Zack Gelof could help them feel better about their middle infield. Lawrence Butler continuing to hit would be encouraging. Getting Mason Miller healthy again would be nice. But pie in the sky, how about a fast track for this year’s first-round draft pick? We’ve seen recent college bats move quickly, and Kurtz is an advanced hitter at a position (first base) where the A’s don’t necessarily have a long-term solution. How about a pro debut so strong it puts Kurtz on the big-league radar for 2025? — Jennings

Record: 39-67
Last Power Ranking: 29

Even better than a trade: A healthy return to the starting rotation from…anyone

Let’s break some tough news for Marlins fans: It’s, uhh, not gonna happen this year. We know, we know, 2023 was a blast, and it felt like the start of something better. And this season has been a headbutt to the sternum, day after day.

The season has felt cursed from the start. A team built on the strength of its starting rotation lost Sandy Alcantara late last year, then watched as starter after starter hit the IL in spring training. Even now, Miami is without Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett and Ryan Weathers — one piece who could have fetched a huge trade return and two others who are important parts of the future. The ingredients of a good, even great, rotation are still within the organization. They just need to pitch. — Britton

Record: 38-69
Last Power Ranking: 28

Even better than a trade: Getting Zac Veen a cup of coffee in September

Veen has the greatest spoonerism in baseball history, if not world history. (He was drafted in 2020, remember.) It’s been a slower start to his career than expected (just a .781 OPS in his minor-league career, with much less power than hoped), but he’s still just 22, and the Rockies are hoping he can become a core part of their future, along with Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar.

They’re not watchable yet. But they’re getting there. Another homegrown prospect would do wonders. — Brisbee

Record: 27-82
Last Power Ranking: 30

Even better than a trade: Buying copies of “The World Without Us” by Alan Weisman for everyone in the front office

When we’re gone, the flora and fauna will take back the land. Buildings will crumble and return to the earth. There will be traces of humanity left over — nuclear waste and plastics, to name two — but even the bytes and bits of our digital footprint will decay and disintegrate. Every ballpark and book and newspaper and picture will eventually disappear.

And if all evidence of baseball disappears, that means there will be no memory of the 2024 White Sox. The days are long, but the years are short. Every second is another one closer to this sweet, sweet release. — Brisbee

GO DEEPER

Trading for Garrett Crochet: Which teams (and prospect packages) could land him?

(Top image of Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)

If it were up to two-time major champion Jon Rahm the selection process for golfers participating in the Olympics would be drastically different. 

In the days leading up to the opening round of the men’s tournament at the Paris Olympics, the Spanish pro golfer proposed a different format. Rahm suggested that each country should be allowed to select their own golfers for the Summer Games.

Currently, golfers are chosen based on where they land in the world golf rankings. “There needs to be some guidelines,” Rahm told reporters. “but, like, Team USA Basketball (is) free to choose whoever they want.”

The Olympic qualifying process came into focus earlier in the year when some players who competed on the LIV Golf circuit were not considered for the Summer Games. LIV’s tournaments are not recognized by the world rankings.

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Seven LIV players, including Rahm, did ultimately make the trip to France for this year’s Olympics. But, others like Bryson DeChambeau, who won the U.S. Open in June, and fellow American Brooks Koepka were not selected. 

“I think you need to let each country choose who they want to play,” Rahm added.

Captain Jon Rahm of Legion XIII warms up in the practice area during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational – Mayakoba at El Camaleon at Mayakoba on February 02, 2024 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)

Golf was added to Olympic competition ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. 

More than a century passed without golfers participating in the Games before it rejoined the Summer Games more than eight years ago.

Jon Rahm of Spain tees off on the 14th hole during Day Four of the DP World Tour Championship on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 19, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

Olympic golf currently plays under the traditional 72-hole format, but Rahm also would not mind seeing the addition of “some team aspect.” 

“That would be extremely nice to share the stage with another player,” Rahm said, “to do something different, to maybe what we do every other day.”

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John and Tracy Sellers arrived in Lubbock, Texas, the evening of Monday, July 22, with dinner reservations and an intention: to woo the best college softball player in the world to play for Texas Tech.

The dinner was at Las Brisas, a white-tablecloth steakhouse just south of Texas Tech’s campus that serves up lobster guacamole and a 25-ounce bone-in ribeye. The player was NiJaree Canady, USA Softball’s Collegiate Player of the Year.

There were six seats at the table: the Sellers, Marc McDougal (a board member of the Matador Club, a Texas Tech-affiliated name, image and likeness collective), Canady and her parents. No coaches or university administrators. Just a few well-connected Tech supporters and a family with a menu full of options. The group made fast friends over a nearly three-hour meal.

Canady, a 6-foot pitching phenom from Topeka, Kan., was visiting Lubbock for the first time. She was less than two months removed from leading Stanford to the Women’s College World Series semifinals as a sophomore, garnering mainstream headlines in the process. A few weeks later, she entered the transfer portal, the biggest star of a burgeoning sport hitting the open market.

The youngest person at the table that night, Canady held all the power. But she also had a tough decision ahead, still wary of leaving Stanford behind. Texas Tech softball isn’t on the same level as Stanford, and cowers in comparison to a blue blood like Oklahoma, but the Sellers could offer a distinct perspective. John played football for the Red Raiders under Mike Leach. Tracy played softball at Tech and was on the search committee for newly hired softball manager Gerry Glasco, whom Tech lured from Louisiana after five Sun Belt Conference titles and a .773 winning percentage in seven seasons.

The Sellers could offer distinct resources, too. John co-founded Double Eagle Energy, a multi-billion-dollar upstream oil-and-gas company that operates in the nearby Permian Basin region of West Texas. He also co-founded Matador Club, which he oversees with business partner and fellow Red Raiders alum Cody Campbell. The collective aims to sign every athlete on campus to an NIL deal – achieving it in football, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, baseball, track and golf, including $25,000 each for football players and $10,000 each for softball. In 2022, the Sellers gifted Texas Tech athletics $11 million, with $1 million going toward facility upgrades to Rocky Johnson Field, Tech’s softball stadium.

And on Monday night at Las Brisas, the Matador Club was prepared to make Canady a ceiling-shattering NIL offer: $1 million. But Canady wasn’t ready to accept it.

She wanted to tour the Tech campus and facilities on Tuesday and spend time with coach Glasco. She wanted to discuss her decision with her former Stanford teammates and coaches. She wanted to weigh her options. All of it only endeared her to the Sellers even more.

“She’s a superstar,” John Sellers said. “I wanted her to make the best choice she thought she could make.”

Less than 48 hours later, they got the answer they were hoping for. Canady announced on social media Wednesday afternoon that she was committing to Texas Tech, and Matador Club announced it had signed Canady to an NIL agreement soon after. The contract is for one year and $1,050,024, as The Athletic previously reported. It’s believed to be the highest-ever NIL contract for a softball player — by a wide margin.

The $24 is for Canady’s jersey number. The $50,000 is for living expenses. And the $1 million is for Canady.

John Sellers declined to comment on the specific amount but described it as “a life-changing” deal.

“She deserves it,” he added. “She’s a complete game-changer for any program, but especially a place like Tech.”

Her commitment is a coup for a school with six NCAA Tournament appearances in softball, most recently in 2019, that has never reached a WCWS.

But as college football and basketball have become increasingly defined by the big-money free agency fueled by NIL and the portal, Canady’s million-dollar transfer marks a similarly seismic moment for college softball.

“It’s absolutely unprecedented for an annual compensation for a D-I softball player,” said Blake Lawrence, the CEO of Opendorse, a company that facilitates and manages NIL deals. “Canady might be getting paid more than every single softball player in her conference combined.”

Canady dominated in her two years pitching at Stanford, leading the nation in ERA as a freshman (0.57) and sophomore (0.65) and registering a sport-leading 337 strikeouts in 230.2 innings pitched in 2024. Her pitches feature a lethal combination of velocity and movement, particularly a near-unhittable rise ball that leaves a trail of hapless batters in its jetstream.

“She’s one of a kind,” said ESPN broadcaster Jessica Mendoza, a former Stanford outfielder. “She’s not just a pitcher. She can win games just on her own, and we haven’t really seen a pitcher like that in our sport, we’ve actually got away from that.”

According to an individual with knowledge of Canady’s transfer and NIL negotiations this offseason and two other sources involved with Stanford, Canady’s family first approached Stanford’s NIL collective, Lifetime Cardinal, in the spring of her freshman season in 2023. The family was seeking a seven-figure offer.

At that point, Stanford had been slow to embrace an NIL landscape drifting deeper into pay-for-play, and the athletic department had yet to claim an affiliation with Lifetime Cardinal. The collective didn’t extend an offer to Canady after her freshman season, and it came as a surprise to some there when she did not enter the portal in 2023.

Canady declined an interview for this article through representatives from her management team and Texas Tech. Canady’s mother, Katherine, did not respond to requests for comment.

This past April, Stanford athletic director Bernard Muir gave the department’s official blessing to Lifetime Cardinal, which has since involved several former Stanford athletes, including quarterback Andrew Luck, in the collective.

By the time Stanford reached a second straight WCWS last month, all parties realized a bidding war was coming for Canady’s right arm — but few outside of Lubbock could have predicted the final sale price. The going rate for a star pitcher in the portal was believed to be in the $100,000-$150,000 range.

Canady entered the transfer portal on June 17, drawing immediate attention from several elite programs. Texas Tech had to play catch-up. Glasco was hired June 20, and once he finally could reach out to Canady, he primarily dealt with her manager. Canady wanted to focus on traveling to Japan with USA Softball for an all-star event in early July, and her family wanted to insulate her as much as possible from what it knew would be a spirited recruiting process.

“It was different than any other recruitment I’ve been involved with,” said Glasco. “They really had a business-like approach to it early on.”

It also became clear that NIL would be a motivating factor in Canady’s ultimate destination.

A person familiar with the negotiations said Lifetime Cardinal made Canady an offer shortly before she entered the portal on the last day the window was open.

Canady also changed management teams, and her new representation quickly fielded both scholarship and NIL offers, Texas Tech and Matador Club among them.

Canady’s recruitment out of high school was limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, so when she returned from Japan earlier this month, she leaned into her second chance on the trail, scheduling visits to Tennessee, Alabama, UCLA and Kansas, her home-state school, while still leaving open the possibility of a return to Stanford.

Upon hearing about potential six-figure NIL offers being floated elsewhere, Lifetime Cardinal worked to raise more funds from a wider pool of donors, including several Stanford softball alums, and was preparing to make a much larger offer later this month that would be “within shouting distance” of Tech’s, according to a person with knowledge of Canady’s transfer process. 

“(Lifetime Cardinal was) incredibly competitive with every offer that NiJa was having thrown at her, and that’s saying something,” said Mendoza.

Still, Stanford’s chances of retaining the coveted ace withered after she touched down in Lubbock. Following dinner with the Sellers and McDougal on Monday night, Tech rolled out the Red Raiders carpet on Tuesday. Glasco gave Canady and her parents a tour of the facilities. He walked her through the roster he had already put in place for next season, featuring eight other transfers, five of whom followed him from Louisiana, including Sun Belt Player of the Year Mihyia Davis. Glasco knew Canady wants to hit too, emphasizing that she wouldn’t be confined to the circle.

Canady had expressed interest in personal branding and social media, so Glasco arranged a meeting to address how Tech could help foster that. They even appealed to the family’s Chiefs fandom, highlighting the school’s recently announced apparel deal with Adidas that features a brand partnership with Red Raiders alum Patrick Mahomes and his signature Adidas gladiator logo.

Glasco spared no detail, asking for the landscaping around the facilities to be touched up, the infield lined at Rocky Johnson Field and the scoreboard lit up for the visit.

“It was absolutely amazing to me to see how the entire athletic department jumped in to help us recruit,” said Glasco. “When NiJa first got here, I think there was a lot of skepticism that she might not like this place, this is a waste of her time. And the minute she walked on campus and saw the beauty, felt the love, things just clicked and we got the result that we got.”

Just before 3:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday afternoon, Canady posted a tweet thanking Stanford for “the ride of a lifetime” while announcing Texas Tech as her new home, just above a photo of her seated on a throne in a Red Raiders uniform.

These past two years have been amazing and I thank @StanfordSball for the ride of a lifetime. Excited for what’s ahead! @TexasTechSB pic.twitter.com/C017QT51Gp

— NiJaree Canady (@CanadyNijaree) July 24, 2024

“These past two years at Stanford have been nothing but incredible — I truly mean that,” Canady told ESPN. “My goal every year is to win the Women’s College World Series, so that’s my goal right now. … I think there’s a good young core coming in and a lot of good players from Louisiana.”

“We’re disappointed we won’t be able to continue nurturing (Canady’s) growth, but understand the dilemma she and her family were faced with,” Muir said. “It’s not my place to judge her and their decisions. We understand it and respect it.”

Eleven minutes after her commitment post, the Matador Club sent a tweet welcoming Canady to Lubbock. The Texas Tech softball account posted a link for season ticket deposits minutes later.

“I definitely think NiJa’s felt the love and support she’s going to get at Tech,” John Sellers said. “It speaks to what we’re willing to do here to create a good culture and win a lot of games, no matter what sport it is.”

How significant Canady’s $1 million NIL deal is to college softball and women’s sports writ large can’t be overstated.

Tech athletics generated $146.8 million in revenue in fiscal year 2023, according to the department’s NCAA financial forms, with football responsible for $80.3 million. Softball generated $1.38 million, but that includes the Sellers’ $1 million donation, and after expenses still posted a $1.15 million deficit. (In fiscal year 2022, softball generated just over $340,000 and operated at a deficit of $1.44 million.)  Glasco’s new coaching contract reportedly will pay him $1.33 million over five years, including $250,000 next season. Oklahoma’s Patty Gasso, believed to be the highest-paid coach in college softball, is set to make $1.8 million in 2024.

A select few women’s college players — Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Livvy Dunne – have springboarded to national sponsorships and mainstream prominence in the NIL era. Still, Canady represents a new frontier for an Olympic, non-revenue sport.

Her NIL haul with Matador Club didn’t reset the market. It obliterated it.

“(Canady will) forever be the one of the faces of the early NIL transfer portal stories,” said Sue Enquist, UCLA’s seven-time national champion head coach from 1989-2006 and a trailblazer in the sport. “From a business perspective, it’s great to see our sport keeping pace with other sports that are growing.”

Yet with that degree of growth and attention also comes a certain level of scrutiny. Texas Tech softball, suddenly boasting World-Series aspirations, will have to shoulder the pressure that comes with those well-funded expectations.

All of it further emphasizes the arrival of big-money NIL into the sport.

“If Caitlin Clark would have entered the transfer portal after her sophomore year, where would the bidding war have ended up, knowing what you know now?” OpenDorse’s Lawrence said. “The bet here is that the rise of women’s sports, the rise of softball viewership, and a once-in-a-generation talent like Caitlin Clark is on the market.

“The $1 million payment,” he added, “could be justified.”

— The Athletic‘s Jayna Bardahl and Tobias Bass contributed to this report.

(Top illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos: Eakin Howard / Getty Images)