After surging in the Reds' lineup since his call-up, Bleday could be a name on the move.
A couple of months ago, the idea of JJ Bleday becoming one of the Cincinnati Reds' most valuable trade assets would have sounded unlikely. Especially seeing how the Reds didn't even break camp with him.
Bleday opened the season at Triple-A after arriving as a low-risk offseason addition following his departure from the Athletics. When Cincinnati called him up on April 25, the expectation was simply that he might help stabilize the outfield. Instead, he has become one of the most productive bats in the lineup.
That is what makes the recent trade speculation surrounding him so intriguing.
In a recent look at potential trade candidates around baseball, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand included Bleday among the names worth monitoring ahead of the deadline. The reasoning is straightforward. Through 39 games, Bleday is hitting .270 with 11 home runs, 29 RBI and a .930 OPS while earning just $1.4 million this season. He also remains under club control for two additional years.
Feinsand notes that Bleday could either become "a key cog in the Reds' lineup moving forward" or an "appealing trade chip" if Cincinnati finds itself selling later this summer.
The speculation says as much about the Reds' place in the standings as it does about Bleday's performance.
At 32-35 and sitting in last place in the National League Central, Cincinnati has yet to decide what direction it will take approaching the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The division remains tightly packed enough that a strong stretch could quickly change the conversation. At the same time, another prolonged slump could force the front office to evaluate pieces that weren't expected to be available.
What makes him particularly intriguing is that contenders would not be acquiring a rental. Teams would get a left-handed power bat who has posted a .931 OPS since arriving in Cincinnati while maintaining cost control beyond this season. Bleday has been especially productive against right-handed pitching, batting .283 with a 1.019 OPS and nine home runs against righties.
Still, the fact that Bleday has become a trade candidate is somewhat ironic considering how quickly he has established himself in Cincinnati. The Reds took a chance on a former top prospect looking for another opportunity. Less than two months after his promotion, he has played well enough to create an entirely different discussion.
Whether that conversation gains momentum will likely depend less on Bleday and more on what the Reds do over the next several weeks.
If Cincinnati climbs back into the race, Bleday probably remains part of the solution. If the standings continue trending the wrong way, one of the team's best success stories could suddenly become one of its most valuable deadline assets.
