Headlines

  • White Sox To Activate Liam Hendriks From Injured List
  • Royals Release Hunter Dozier
  • Yankees Release Aaron Hicks
  • Brewers Sign Julio Teheran To Major League Deal
  • Red Sox Move Corey Kluber To Bullpen
  • Athletics Reach Tentative Stadium Funding Deal With Nevada Lawmakers
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Athletics Recall JJ Bleday

By Darragh McDonald | May 3, 2023 at 5:26pm CDT

The Athletics announced today that outfielder JJ Bleday has been recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, with fellow outfielder Conner Capel optioned to Vegas in a corresponding move. Bleday is in tonight’s lineup, batting fifth and playing left field.

This will be the first appearance as an Athletic for Bleday, who came over from the Marlins this winter in a one-for-one trade with A.J. Puk going the other way. The fourth overall selection of the 2019 draft, Bleday has been considered one of the top prospects in the league but has had an inconsistent professional career thus far. He struggled in Double-A in 2021 but hit well enough in Triple-A last year to get a 65-game audition in the big leagues. He walked in 12.6% of his plate appearances in the majors but also struck out 28.2% of the time and slashed .167/.277/.309 for a wRC+ of 72.

The Marlins decided to move on from him and flipped him for Puk, but Bleday is making some noise so far this year. In 119 plate appearances in Triple-A, he’s walked more than he’s struck out, a 16.8% rate of free passes compared to just a 12.6% clip for the punchouts. His .316/.429/.643 batting line needs to be taken with a grain of salt because he’s playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but it’s still 50% above league average, as shown by his 150 wRC+.

Bleday will now see if he can fare better against major league pitchers this year than he did last year. If he’s able to play well enough to stick around, it could have ramifications on the business side of things. Bleday earned 75 days of service time with the Marlins last year, meaning he’s 97 shy of the 172 that are required to get to the one-year mark. With about five months left in the season, there’s still a chance for him to get over the line and be on track for arbitration after 2025 and free agency after 2028. However, future optional assignments could push those targets back.

If Bleday does hit the ground running and emerge as a key piece for the A’s, it doesn’t currently seem like the Marlins will have too much regret. Puk has been absolutely lights out so far this year, posting a 0.75 ERA through 12 innings pitched, striking out 27.1% of batters faced while walking just 4.2%. That performance seems to have vaulted him into the closer’s seat, as he’s racked up five saves on the year so far.

Turning back to Bleday, he’ll jump into the outfield mix in Oakland next to some other players looking to prove themselves. Rookie Esteury Ruiz is getting most of the playing time in center while Ramón Laureano is the regular in right, looking to get back into a groove after his PED suspension and shaky return last year. Brent Rooker is also in the mix, having a tremendous season at the plate thus far, but has been frequently in the designated hitter slot of late.

Share 0 Retweet 5 Send via email0

Oakland Athletics Transactions J.J. Bleday

José Quijada To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Main
Robbie Ray Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
View Comments (17)

Comments

  1. C-Daddy

    4 weeks ago

    Am I the only one who reads his name to the tune of Bob Dylan’s “Lay, Lady, Lay”? Missed opportunity if that isn’t his walk-up song.

    Reply
    • jamaicajan

      4 weeks ago

      Well, I will now. Thank you for that.

      Reply
      • Curly Was The Smart Stooge

        4 weeks ago

        The Beatles came to my mind;
        Ob-La-Di, Oh Bleday
        Life goes on, brah

        Reply
  2. GangGreen23

    4 weeks ago

    Signing veterans Aledyms Diaz, Jace Peterson, and Jesus Aguilar has not panned-out and those 3 are only blocking Younger players from getting looks.

    So I’m all for Bleday, Jordan Diaz and Nick Allen getting more playing time since those Vets are under-performing.

    Reply
  3. Monkey’s Uncle

    4 weeks ago

    JJ Bleday? Recalled today? You don’t say! He’ll get to play. Right by the Bay.

    Reply
    • Loud Noises!

      4 weeks ago

      He just may

      Reply
    • Appalachian_Outlaw

      4 weeks ago

      But will he stay? Time to see if he can find a way.

      Reply
      • Monkey’s Uncle

        4 weeks ago

        He’ll have the chance to make some hay, as they say.

        Reply
  4. statman

    4 weeks ago

    Traded for Puk? Nice one, Beannie. I’ll bet the fan in the stands won’t like this one (I noticed paid attendance last night was listed at 2,583 … there must have been 2,581 Mariner fans there!)

    Reply
    • GangGreen23

      4 weeks ago

      Billy Beane hasn’t been running the team for a few years now. He’s busy helping Fisher run his San Jose Earthquakes soccer team.

      By the way, why are you always bashing A’s fans? How about aiming your criticism at the Team’s owner John Fisher? Fisher is the reason their are no Fans in the stands. He traded away the best players and then Increased Ticket prices afterwards.

      Reply
      • 5TUNT1N

        4 weeks ago

        As an avid athletics and giants fan (giants more so in my house) I can’t agree with Mr green more. We have been completely alienated as a fan base, it’s so god damn upsetting that guy Fisher is a real dick. Planning my final trip to the coliseum this season and that will wrap up my fan hood can’t see following this team and owner to Las Vegas it’s too similar to the bad ownership that plagued the kings throughout my youth that forced me to only follow the warriors. Here we are 20 years later and the kings finally are getting it together with different owners let’s just hope the shift in Las Vegas doesn’t take as long. Sadly I don’t see this owner selling anytime soon and he is just completely ruining any experience in Oakland and seems not to care one bit. Remove is revenue sharing. Hopefully bleday can be worth at least 1 war because then they would have 4!

        Reply
  5. AllAboutBaseball

    4 weeks ago

    Tomorrow’s Breaking News: Athletics trade JJ Bleday for a couple of prospects and a player to be named later or cash.

    Reply
    • case

      4 weeks ago

      Too late, he’s already been traded for a Vegas escort service voucher and a carton of parliaments.

      Reply
  6. Gumby82

    4 weeks ago

    Another dumb move by the A’s. I’m numb to it. I hate John Fisher

    Reply
    • zacharydmanprin

      4 weeks ago

      How is it a dumb move by the A’s?

      Reply
      • 5TUNT1N

        4 weeks ago

        Trading puk who was once a top prospect and finally started the figure it out for a failed prospect. I get his point they used to make trades that paid off, that hasn’t happened in awhile. Usually there would be logic in remaining options , that logic’s just not found as often these days when rummaging through past transactions of theirs.

        Reply
  7. GiantJim

    4 weeks ago

    “I love when baseball players names rhyme” Ed Head 1942

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    White Sox To Activate Liam Hendriks From Injured List

    Royals Release Hunter Dozier

    Yankees Release Aaron Hicks

    Brewers Sign Julio Teheran To Major League Deal

    Red Sox Move Corey Kluber To Bullpen

    Athletics Reach Tentative Stadium Funding Deal With Nevada Lawmakers

    NPB Watch: May Edition

    Yankees Designate Aaron Hicks For Assignment

    Cubs Designate Eric Hosmer For Assignment

    Mets Select Gary Sanchez, Place Tim Locastro On 60-Day IL

    Astros To Activate Jose Altuve

    Rays Recall Taj Bradley, Plan To Keep Him In Rotation

    Kumar Rocker To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Anibal Sanchez Announces Retirement

    Willson Contreras To Return To Catching Duties On Monday

    Rockies Place Antonio Senzatela On 15-Day IL Due To Elbow Sprain

    Cubs, Marcus Stroman Had Preliminary Extension Talks

    Drew Rasmussen Shut Down For Two Months With Flexor Strain

    Tyler Mahle To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Marlins To Promote Eury Pérez

    Recent

    White Sox To Activate Liam Hendriks From Injured List

    Quick Hits: Astros, Santana, Pagan, Muncy, Miller

    Michael Soroka To Start Monday For Braves

    AL East Notes: Fairbanks, Rizzo, Blue Jays

    Adam Morgan Retires

    Bryce Elder Has Been Bailing Out The Braves’ Rotation

    Twins To Activate Royce Lewis, Max Kepler From Injured List On Monday

    Chad Pinder To Retire

    White Sox Activate Eloy Jimenez From 10-Day Injured List

    Pirates Place Vince Velasquez On 15-Day IL

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Shohei Ohtani Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version