10:31AM: The contract will pay Bleday $1.4MM in guaranteed money, plus more is available via incentives, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand writes.
9:30AM: The Reds have signed outfielder JJ Bleday, according to FanSided’s Robert Murray. MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon adds that the contract is a one-year Major League contract, and that the signing will become official once Cincinnati makes another move to clear a spot on its full 40-man roster. Bleday is represented by Excel Sports Management.
Selected fourth overall by the Marlins in the 2019 draft, it looked like Bleday had broken out in 2024, when he hit .243/.324/.437 with 20 homers over 642 plate appearances during the Athletics’ final season in Oakland. This 120 wRC+ at the plate was enough to power Bleday to 3.2 fWAR during the season, despite some very rough (-19 Defensive Runs Saved, -3 Outs Above Average) reviews of his defensive performance in center field.
One would’ve expected that, if anything, Bleday’s bat would’ve become even more potent as the A’s moved to Sutter Health Park, yet he instead struggled through a brutal 2025 campaign. Bleday delivered only a 90 wRC+ from a .212/.294/.404 slash line and 14 homers over 344 PA, and he played in just 98 big league games as he was twice demoted to Triple-A. Bleday’s barrel numbers and strikeout rate both dropped off considerably from 2024, falling to below-average marks. The A’s moved Bleday out of center field, but his glovework was still passable at best as a corner outfielder.
MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected Bleday to earn $2.2MM in his first of three trips through the arbitration process. The Athletics chose to move on entirely by designating Bleday for assignment in November, and he was then cut loose at the non-tender deadline. The Reds now control Bleday through the 2028 season, and since he has a minor league option remaining, Cincinnati can send him back to down to Triple-A if necessary.
Bleday is a left-handed hitter, which makes him something of an imperfect fit in a Reds outfield that already includes such lefty-swingers as TJ Friedl, Gavin Lux, and Will Benson. Noelvi Marte is a right-handed hitter, but he is also likely the only outfielder slated for everyday duty in the wake of his successful transition to the right field position in 2025. Today’s move could indicate that the Reds are thinking about parting ways with Lux or Benson, or since this entire group is pretty inexpensive, Cincinnati could wait until Spring Training to figure out exactly how the outfield playing time will be split.
A bounce-back candidate like Bleday is far from any kind of clear-cut upgrade to the Reds lineup. Cincinnati squeaked into the postseason despite middling numbers at best in most offensive categories, and the multi-positional flexibility of most of the Reds’ current players gave the team plenty of room to maneuver in considering offseason moves. Such names as Brandon Lowe (since dealt to the Pirates), Jake Meyers, and Luis Robert Jr. have reportedly been on the Reds’ trade radar, and the club even considered an uncharacteristic free agent splash with a five-year offer in the $125MM range for Kyle Schwarber. However, that specific pursuit seemed linked to Schwarber’s local ties to the Cincinnati area, and the Reds are very likely not spending anything close to that number for any other free agent bat.
In that sense, Bleday is a better fit within the Reds’ limited budget, and perhaps a sign that the Reds will be focusing more on trades than free agents. If the move to Sutter Health Park didn’t agree with Bleday, perhaps playing in another hitter-friendly venue (and a proper big league stadium) like The Great American Ballpark will do the trick. Bleday isn’t likely to be the last of the Reds’ offensive additions, as a better lineup would help the club take a step forward as true contenders.
Krall, King of the dumpster diving world
Worse than Hoyer?
Reds should have made the Cubs a decent offer for Ian Happ.
David Stearns is throwing things right now in a fit of rage because the Reds outbid him.
The guy is a #1 pick, he had a pretty good year in Oakland a few years ago. Hitting in Cincy has to be a plus. Good luck to him.
HOPIUM
Cause Sacramento is real tough on hitters.
You’d think so but look at their lineup. Guys come here and get worse instead of better. Plus Tito brings in Valaika to be a hitting coach who was a terrible hitter when he played. Not counting on him to suddenly figure it out in Cincy.
Just because a coach could not hit himself does not mean he cannot coach. There are a ton of guys that couldn’t hit or pitch a lick in the minors and became great coaches or managers. They know what to do and can teach it, but couldn’t execute themselves for whatever reason.
Look at all the hitting coaches around MLB. I don’t think there is an All-Star in the bunch. Certainly no .300 hitters. Most of them had to work hard just to make it. Had to study and work at it just to be a .250 hitter. I read a story one time where a lot of the really, good hitters were terrible coaches. Their coaching consisted of “see the ball, hit the ball”. Um…okay, coach. Thanks.
The most Reds move ever. Let’s grab trash from the heap and call it a big move.
Are they calling that their big move?
Do you see anything of value signed or traded for? Last year it was Hays which was mediocre.
Hays was the 5th best hitter on the team. He was not a bad signing.
But still mediocre…….
Say good’ay to Reggie Ray?
Could be a good pick up. Had a decent 2024 so maybe he can pick it back up. Just a guess.
The Reds standby.Maybe someone will have a career year.
If it was between Bleday or Roberts, I like the move honestly. With that said, it is still very disappointing if Krall doesn’t make an impact trade for a hyped up yet proven impact bat. Time will tell.
Maybe makes a Robert trade a little less likely. But they hit from opposite sides. And Bleday can still be stashed in AAA if they add another OF.
And Roberts can play center lol, I thought the ljr trade was unlikely anyways since they obviously overvalue him. Maybe this removes some leverage idk, they probably just walk away though.
Good get. Guys who have a 120 wRC+ season on their resume, are only 28, and can play CF don’t grow on trees.
He can’t play CF though
Poor OBP and defense but was good 2 years ago and in that small park might be able to slug some homers as a reserve outfielder.
20 hr in 2024, former #4 overall pick
A’s play in a little lg park and they didnt even wanna pay the $2mil?
He might bounce back in cincy a la austin hays
If it’s a minor league contract or a split contract, then is a solid signing. If it’s a major league deal, then is at least questionable.
What JJ is missing is a contact, but the discipline is there, and he has 20-25 HR potential. He is a decent corner OF with a good arm, and can also play Center Field on an emergency or a if you want to give your starter a day off. Again, solid if not guaranteed.
I was hopeful the Royals would sign him. Seems to me the A’s were quick with the non-tender here. Maybe there is something going on behind the scenes here?
JJ ble day Bae BY!
When this happens I get confused…does he just go through arbitration with the Reds? Or did they sign him to a deal then?
He won’t go through arb this winter….whatever they’ve signed him for is what he gets. Hopefully it’s close to league min.
He will be eligible for arbitration again next offseason
The minor league option is really important. Considering his pedigree and performance a season ago, he’s a good guy to have in AAA hoping to break out.
Cheap move, high upside, the only problem is it takes a 40 man roster spot. Otherwise why not…
1.4 M$ that could have been added to what’s left to sign someone better – that’s the why not. But that would be expecting someone better. Not likely, Reds fans look at Steer and Lux starting in LF all year.
Very good signing by the Reds and I think it has the potential of being the best under the radar move of the offseason. High upside with Bleday.
If he could play defense he would’ve been a brewer 😂😂
Kinda had some reverse splits last year albeit in a small sample size
I guess… He doesn’t have enough service time to both reject an outright and keep his salary, so he could be a candidate to send down if they eventually get a roster crunch.
Need to trade for Rooker
Not going to happen. This would take almost all of the Reds top of the farm system.
lol tiger
A .215 average , another great signing by the worst organization in professional sports. ( Sorry , I forgot that they signed a AAA hitter a couple days ago ) . Pathetic
And the reds offseason comes to a close. Well done fellas
They probably get another reliever but yeah I would assume that will be the final free agent move. Could still surprise us with a trade though
Just another reclamation project, can go either way. Takes a 40-man spot but also one option remaining.
Reds got their guy! Who needs Schwarber.
Benson, Bleday, Lux, And Hector Rod- just too many LH hitting corner oitfielders. Somebody has to go
I’d vote lux
What does JJ’s roommate say to him in the am? Bleday, mate!
I’ll allow it
Good signing, still need a thumper likely a DH or if they trade MM a power hitter 2B makes sense I think DBacks have a guy