The Reds may be headed toward seller mode at the deadline, and one of their most intriguing chips is an outfielder who started the year in Triple-A and has quickly turned himself into a legitimate asset.
That player is JJ Bleday, whose bat has given Cincinnati a real bright spot in a season that otherwise has the club sitting at the bottom of the NL Central. Even with another strong year from shortstop Elly De La Cruz, the Reds have not climbed into the race in any meaningful way, and a Wild Card push is possible but not likely.
Bleday’s numbers explain why he’s drawing attention. He’s posted a .846 OPS with 16 home runs in 67 games, a sharp turnaround for a player who was DFA’d by the Athletics last season before landing with the Reds in 2026. FanSided’s Christopher Kline called him a breakout and pointed to the value Cincinnati could get back if it decides to move him.
"JJ Bleday was DFA'd by the Athletics last season before picking up with the Cincinnati Reds in 2026. While the Reds are on a somber trajectory these days, Bleday's breakout season is a bright spot," FanSided's Christopher Kline wrote Monday.
"Moreover, with Bleday under club control through 2028, the Reds could flip him for significant value at the deadline," Kline added.
The contrast with his recent past is pretty stark. Bleday hit 20 home runs in 2024 with the A’s, but his 2025 season was a rough one, marked by a higher strikeout rate and a .698 OPS. Cincinnati clearly believed there was something to unlock in his swing, and that bet has paid off with everyday production for manager Terry Francona.
Now the question is whether the Reds keep riding that production or cash in while his value is at its peak.
"Cincy will need to weigh the risk and reward of carrying Bleday into next season as opposed to selling when his value has reached what is probably its absolute highest point," Kline added. "Every team needs outfield help."
That kind of profile tends to travel well at the deadline, and Bleday’s short stay in Cincinnati could end up being exactly that: short. Contending clubs looking for outfield help are expected to come calling.
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