JJ Bleday! He struggled through a brutal 2025 campaign. Bleday delivered only a 90 wRC+ from a .212/.294/.404 slash line and 14 homers over 344 PA, and he played in just 98 big league games as he was twice demoted to Triple-A. Bleday’s barrel numbers and strikeout rate both dropped off considerably from 2024, falling to below-average marks. The A’s moved Bleday out of center field, but his glovework was still passable at best as a corner outfielder. And he is a left hitter in a lineup of left hitting outfielders. (Lux, Benson, Friedl) The only thing he matches the Reds for is budget. He will be paid 1.4M guaranteed. Perhaps the Reds are moving on from Lux or Benson.
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Their OF depth is so bad, this is actually a decent move, but it doesn’t change the fact they still need a good OF bat.
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This doesn’t move the needle at all unless he can have a year like 2024, and even then all this really is amounts to a swap of this guy for Austin Hays.
Sure, it’s a long shot that he can be his 2024 version. But he’s not expensive and he’s better than some of the OF the Reds played out there this past season (Jacob Hurtubise and Blake Dunn immediately come to mind).
He’s got a minor league option so he doesn’t have to make the team.
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No but as of this point let’s look at another smaller market team in their own division. Who has had a better off season so far-Reds or Pirates? 2 similarly situated teams as far as payroll and fan base.
Brewers are good
My point is certain teams are moving to improve. I don’t see the Reds as one of those so far. Pirates, absolutely have.
Pirates have added about 4 WAR this offseason and the Reds just 2 WAR (though some of that is resigning Pagan), so definitely the Pie Rats. Pittsburgh still has a projected payroll of $15 million less than the Reds, but have no “dead” money while Cincy has $15 million (contract option buyouts and the corpse of Jeimer Candelario… the highest paid Red for 2026 lol). Shows what a bad contract can do to small market team. That said, I don’t believe the Reds are destitute, as they had a 2020 payroll of $149 million and should be spending beyond the $115 number that is expected for 2026.
Bader to Giants. Hays to White Sox. Here are my
top 2 choices for an impact bat-bring back Miquel Andujar. Or bring back Eugenio Suarez.
I could see the Reds just waiting for the Castellanos picture to become more clear. Sounds like Phillies want him out and might outright release him to where Reds just pay minimum.
You got your wish. 
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Meanwhile, let’s check on BEISBOLCATS free agency . . .
=>Reds WS favs now.
He was on my list from the beginning of this free agent period. They need an impact bat that wouldn’t break the bank-so perfect fit and can play 1B or 3B as well as DH. I still would like to see Andujar as well. Although Suarez is a minus fielder at 3B.