Pirates should target former first-rounder who was oddly DFA'd in Rule 5 crunch

The Rule 5 protection deadline sparked a wave of interesting roster moves from across the league. In Pittsburgh, they rightfully DFA'd three struggling players, while also making a controversial move with Dauri Moreta. Across the league, their were plenty of other questionable moves. One that stood out for Pittsburgh was when the Athletics DFA'd former first-rounder JJ Bleday. Now that he is available, the Pirates should grab the phone.

Bleday was the fourth overall pick in 2019 and made his debut with the Marlins in 2022. He got off to a slow start to his major league career, and Miami shipped him off to the Athletics in a deal for AJ Puk. 2024 was his first full season in the big leagues and he was great, belting 20 home runs with a 120 wRC+ and a .762 OPS. He was outstanding, generating a 3.2 fWAR, but once 2025 rolled around, he fell into a slump that was the cause of this roster decision.

In the first half, his OPS was just .645 with a 78 wRC+ and 24.5% strikeout rate. He just couldn't find a groove, and he was then optioned to Triple-A in June. After some tweaks and a strong showing down there, the Athletics brought him back up and he finished the season strong, posting an .801 OPS, a .495 slugging, and a 115 wRC+ in the second half. His turnaround is very notable for the Pirates as they look to improve their offense, primarily by adding left-handed bats.

Pirates should acquire JJ Bleday from Athletics after surprising DFA in Rule 5 roster crunch.

Even though Bleday was a primary center fielder with the Athletics, he would fit the Pirates' alignment better as a corner outfielder. He struggled a lot in center last season, posting a -5 OAA with -8 DRS. His 81st percentile arm strength better suits him in a corner outfield spot as well.

Another note: MLBTR projected Bleday to receive $2.2 million in arbitration. A player with his upside at that price would be totally worth it, especially if the Pirates can unlock a 3.2 fWAR season out of him again.

Banking on Bleday to return to his 2024 form doesn't feel too crazy, considering his strong second half. The corner outfield spots appear to be wide open, with Bryan Reynolds becoming a legitimate option for the full-time designated hitter role. The Pirates cannot miss this opportunity to add a solid, inexpensive option right in front of them.