CME Group has announced the launch of what it describes as the world’s first baseball futures contracts, extending its derivatives offering into professional sports. The contracts were scheduled to begin trading on 12 October, subject to regulatory review.
Developed with FutureSports, the contracts track CME FutureSports Performance Indexes (FSPI), which use official league statistics to measure the performance of professional baseball teams. The initial offering covers the four teams competing in the 2026 League Championship Series, with the broader index framework encompassing all 30 teams.
The contracts are available in standard and micro sizes, with trading supported around the clock through CME’s regulated exchange infrastructure and central clearing arrangements. The underlying indexes use rules-based methodologies that assign positive or negative points according to team performance statistics. CME says the methodologies align with IOSCO Principles for Financial Benchmarks, supported by published governance and oversight procedures.
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