Marlins Acquire A.J. Puk From A’s For J.J. Bleday
The Miami Marlins have traded outfielder J.J. Bleday for left-handed relief pitcher A.J. Puk, the clubs announced on Saturday.
Puk has been in Oakland his entire career, but will now head to the east coast. The starter turned reliever had his best career season last year, sporting a 3.12 ERA across 62 appearances.
The A’s drafted Puk sixth overall in the 2016 MLB Draft. This may seem like a strange pick looking back on it, but the A’s drafted him to be a starter, not a reliever.
As for the return for Oakland, they’ll land outfielder J.J. Bleday. Bleday, 24, is a good fit in Oakland. He struggled to get going in 2022, his rookie season. The left-handed hitter only had 16 RBIs and a 67 OPS+ (100 is the league average) in 204 ABs. He’ll have time to figure it out on a club that doesn’t need him to produce right now.
Bleday joins Ramón Laureano, Seth Brown, and Christian Pache in an A’s outfield where he will have to earn playing time
Miami’s bullpen is now a little more crowded. It’s a unit that they tried to rebuild since the beginning of 2022. Among the current relievers in their bullpen, Dylan Floro has the most experience closing games. Huascar Brazoban was a name who flashed potential last season. Puk will join Tanner Scott and Steven Okert as the left-handed options for the fish.
I think it’s fair to declare that the Marlins won this trade. Bleday was less and less likely to be playing at all in Miami, especially with Jazz Chisholm Jr. making the move to CF. Bleday’s rookie counterpart Bryan De La Cruz took time away from Bleday last season and would have again in 2023. But who knows, Bleday could break out in 2023.
Puk is a reliever on the rise but will have to deal with the tough lefties around the NL East late in games.
Both players will have something to prove to their clubs to be rewarded playing time.
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