JJ Bleday Signs with Cincinnati Reds | MLB News

CINCINNATI – the Cincinnati Reds and outfielder JJ Bleday reached an agreement on a one-year contract Saturday, providing a fresh start for the 28-year-old.

Bleday Seeks to Revive Career in Cincinnati

The Reds added a former top-10 pick to their outfield mix, hoping to unlock his potential.

• Bleday hit.212 with 14 home runs and 39 RBIs for the Athletics this year.
• He was a fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft by the Miami Marlins.
• The reds opened a roster spot by designating right-hander Keegan Thompson for assignment.
• Bleday’s 2024 season with Oakland saw career-best numbers with 20 home runs and 60 RBIs.

Bleday’s 2024 performance with the Athletics-a .243 average with 20 home runs and 60 RBIs-represented a career high, but his production dipped to .212 with 14 homers and 39 RBIs this year. He became a free agent last month after the A’s designated him for assignment and declined to offer a contract for 2026.

Did you know? – When a team designates a player for assignment, they have 10 days to trade, release, or remove the player from their 40-man roster. This allows teams flexibility to manage their roster.

The Reds created a roster spot for Bleday by designating right-hander Keegan Thompson for assignment. Thompson had recently agreed to a one-year, $1.3 million contract with a $350,000 minor league salary. Originally selected fourth overall by the Miami Marlins in the 2019 amateur draft, Bleday has a career .215 batting average with 49 home runs and 142 RBIs over four seasons with the Marlins and Athletics.

Pro tip – Players who remain on a team’s 40-man roster are eligible for salary arbitration after three years of major league service time, perhaps leading to higher earnings.

Bleday served as the Athletics’ opening-day center fielder in both 2024 and 2025. The Reds are hoping to tap into the potential that made Bleday a high draft pick. His contract with the Reds provides a chance to revitalize his career after a decline in performance following a strong 2024 season. The move signifies the Reds’ willingness to take a chance on a player with upside, even if his recent performance has been inconsistent.

Why did this happen? the Reds sought to add outfield depth and believed Bleday,a former top-10 pick,could be a valuable asset. Who was involved? The Cincinnati Reds, JJ Bleday, and Keegan Thompson. What was the outcome? Bleday signed a one-year contract with the Reds, while Thompson was designated for assignment to make room on the roster. How did it end? Thompson became a free agent, and Bleday joins the Reds seeking a career resurgence.