A’s get outfielder Bleday from Miami for Puk
OAKLAND — Just just a few days earlier than Spring Training will get underway, the A’s added a left-handed bat to their outfield combine.
In a swap of former first-round picks, the A’s despatched left-hander A.J. Puk to the Marlins in change for outfielder JJ Bleday.
Having constructed up a big depth of pitching over the previous 12 months, the A’s dealt from what they really feel is a power of the group as they parted methods with Puk, whom they chose sixth total within the 2016 MLB Draft. Bleday, chosen fourth total by Miami within the 2019 MLB Draft, joins an outfield group in Spring Training that features Ramón Laureano, Seth Brown, Esteury Ruiz, Cristian Pache, Conner Capel and non-roster invite Brent Rooker.
TRADE DETAILS
A’s obtain: OF JJ Bleday
Marlins obtain: LHP A.J. Puk
Bleday earned his first massive league callup final July after a stable exhibiting at Triple-A Jacksonville that noticed him hit 20 residence runs with 52 RBIs and an .835 OPS in 85 video games. The 25-year-old appeared in 65 video games with Miami and performed largely heart area, slashing .167/.277/.309 with 5 homers and 16 RBIs.
With Oakland, Bleday brings a bit extra steadiness to a roster heavy on right-handed-hitting outfielders. He’ll enter Spring Training possible in competitors with Ruiz, Pache, Capel and Rooker in an outfield image that might have a few open spots relying on how they determine to make the most of versatile choices reminiscent of Brown and Tony Kemp.
Puk, as soon as rated the membership’s high total prospect, continually battled accidents in latest seasons earlier than lastly placing collectively a wholesome marketing campaign out of the bullpen in 2022. After the lefty made 62 aid appearances and posted a 3.12 ERA with 76 strikeouts over 66 1/3 innings final season, the A’s have been planning to provide him an opportunity to transform again right into a beginning function by stretching him out this spring.
Despite Puk’s departure, the A’s nonetheless have a plethora of beginning rotation choices they’ll look to kind by way of in Spring Training. That group consists of latest free-agent signings Shintaro Fujinami and Drew Rucinski, in addition to 2022 All-Star Paul Blackburn, Ken Waldichuk, Kyle Muller, JP Sears, James Kaprielian and Adrián Martínez.
