A's acquire OF Bleday from Marlins in trade for lefty Puk

Sat, Feb 11, 2023
MLB News (AP)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Athletics acquired lefty-hitting outfielder JJ Bleday from Miami on Saturday, sending left-hander A.J. Puk to the Marlins.

The 25-year-old Bleday made his major league debut last year, hitting .167 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 65 games. He made 27 starts in center field.

Picked fourth overall in the 2019 draft, Bleday hit .228 with 20 homers and 52 RBIs in 85 games for Triple-A Jacksonville last year.

The 27-year-old Puk went 4-3 with a 3.12 ERA and four saves in 62 relief outings last season. He had Tommy John surgery in 2018 and a shoulder operation two years later, costing him two seasons - one being the virus-shortened 60-game 2020 campaign.

The A's drafted the 6-foot-7 in the first round in 2016 and he's spent time as both a starter and reliever.

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