Oakland A’s swap former top prospects, send Puk to Miami for Bleday

With pitchers and catchers reporting just around the corner, the A’s made a trade of former top draft picks.

Oakland acquired outfielder J.J. Bleday from the Marlins and sent left-handed pitcher A.J. Puk to Miami in return, the team announced on Saturday.

Bleday, 25, was taken with the fourth overall pick by the Marlins in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt and was MLB’s No. 20 overall prospect before 2021.

The left-handed hitting outfielder didn’t make his MLB debut until last year, batting .167 in 238 plate appearances. He hit 10 doubles, two triples and five homers, but struck out 67 times.

With the A’s set to start their spring on Wednesday with pitchers and catchers report, Bleday will be a part of an Oakland outfield mix that will likely include Ramón Laureano, Seth Brown, Tony Kemp and Esteury Ruiz on the major league roster. Bleday, Conner Capel, Cristian Pache, Cal Stevenson likely competing for a fifth spot.

Puk, 27, was the sixth overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft by the A’s and was once considered one of the top prospects in baseball. But the 6-foot-7 lefty battled health issues for most of his time in Oakland ahead of 2022, only pitching in 24.2 big league innings before 2022.

Last year, Puk had his best season, pitching 66.1 innings across 62 appearances and tallying four saves, a 3.12 ERA and 76 strikeouts. He’ll likely remain a top bullpen arm for Miami.

Puk will join fellow former top A’s prospect Jesus Luzardo in Miami, who the A’s traded for Starling Marte at the 2021 trade deadline. It’s the second straight one-for-one swap between Oakland and Miami of big league players.