A's Trade Puk to Miami for JJ Bleday

The move comes just days before pitchers and catchers are set to report to Spring Training

At Shintaro Fujinami's introductory press conference, A's GM David Forst said that the team may have a couple of minor moves left before camp began. 

Since that statement, the team has traded Cole Irvin to the Baltimore Orioles, signed free agent first baseman Jesús Aguilar, and today, traded A.J. Puk to the Miami Marlins. 

The A’s have acquired outfielder JJ Bleday from the Miami Marlins for left-handed pitcher A.J. Puk.

— Oakland A's Communications (@AthleticsPR) February 12, 2023

Puk had been preparing for camp as a starting pitcher with the hope of joining the A's rotation mix. With Puk headed to Florida, this move would seem to officially open up a spot in the bullpen for JP Sears.

As for the A's return, Bleday, he was Miami's 1st round pick in 2019, 4th overall (Puk was the A's 6th overall pick in 2016), and was baseball's #20 overall prospect in 2021. Last season he played in 65 games in the big leagues and hit just .177, but he had a 12.6% walk rate, giving him a .277 OBP. He can play all three outfield positions and hold his own defensively, and has a strong arm, ranking in the 78th percentile. 

Bleday, 25, has three options remaining, so if I were to take a guess, I would say he starts the season in the minor leagues while the A's give Cristian Pache, who is out of options, one more chance to show some progress before the front office has to make a decision on Pache's future. Then, at the Trade Deadline, Seth Brown will likely be on the move, and Bleday could make his Oakland debut then as a fellow lefty bat. 

Puk held a 3.12 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP last season in relief--his first healthy season in the big leagues since being drafted in 2016--and those numbers are good, but he also hit ten batters and threw six wild pitches. Just 3 of the 17 runners he left on base were allowed to score by the next reliever up. The numbers looked good overall, but he also had some help last season.

Both Puk and Bleday seem to have some upside to unlock, and the A's and Marlins are betting that they have a better shot at success with their new additions.