Tyler Stephenson got the warm welcome back from fans when the Cincinnati Reds seasonresumed play after the MLB trade deadline this week.
But JJ Bleday’s presence when the Reds faced the Athletics this week might have been even more important for whatever comes next competitively for this team.
“He’s a guy who was a very popular ask on the trade market,” team president Nick Krall said after the Reds’ do-little Aug. 3 deadline day (Nathaniel Lowe to Cleveland, Caleb Ferguson to St. Louis in low-level deals).
“We felt that we’ve got him for several more years
under control, and we’re really excited to have him.”
Bleday, the fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft, was signed to a one-year, $1.4 million deal in December, a month after he was non-tendered by the Athletics.
One team’s 2025 castoff is another team’s Opening Day left fielder in 2027?
That’s exactly how it’s starting to look for the Reds and Bleday as the Reds opened the A’s series with the sweet-swinging lefty hitter back in the coveted No. 3 spot of the lineup he’s grown accustomed to since winning National League Player of the Month honors in May.
For now, he’s the Reds’ best acquisition in at least a year, dollar for dollar – and the decision not to trade him at the deadline is the best move/non-move the club made to help their roster next season.
“That’s awesome. That’s good for me. That’s good for my family,” Bleday said. “At the end of the day we really wanted to stay here. We didn’t want to get traded.”
Bleday was reeling when the A’s let him go in November after a rough season, before landing with the Reds. He opened in the minors after a promising spring only because of the annual roster/contract numbers considerations teams weigh in setting their opening rosters.
But after raking at Triple-A, he made his Reds debut April 26, hit a homer, and hasn’t looked back – flirting with All-Star consideration as he resurrected his career.
“It shows we made the good decision to pick this team in the offseason,” he said the day after surviving the trade inquiries to remain in the Reds’ plans. “I hope it’s the same on their end as well.”
This week has been an opportunity to remind the A’s of what they’re missing in Bleday, who singled, walked and made a highlight-level catch in left field during the Reds’ series-opening win.
“He’s a player that sits in my mind as a guy that I’ll look back on in my career,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said, and hopefully learn how to connect and how to help a player through those times in a better way.”
Bleday, 28, has – through 84 games – what would be career highs in on-base percentage (.343) and slugging (.463), and he’s one off of his 2024 career high in home runs (20) with seven weeks to play.
“So far it’s been a good fit,” he said. “We just really enjoy our time here, and I love being a Red.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trade deadline all A's for Reds JJ Bleday, who found home since release
