The Oakland Athletics might be open to trading JJ Bleday to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jack Suwinski and Liover Peguero. This potential trade was proposed by an MLB executive to Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Pirates insider @_NoahHiles on a deal an MLB executive told him could be a possibility:
Liover Peguero and Jack Suwinski for A's CF JJ Bleday
Bleday is 26. Leads MLB in doubles. Is under team control for 4 more years.
I would do this deal in a heartbeat.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) June 20, 2024
There’s no evidence that either general manager has proposed such a deal. However, if there’s any truth to this rumor, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington should act on it immediately.
### Pirates Trade Rumor: Eyeing Outfield Depth
JJ Bleday, a 26-year-old center fielder, could be a valuable addition to the Pirates. Why is he appealing? Several reasons:
– **Contract Status:** Bleday is not eligible for arbitration until 2026 and won’t reach free agency until 2029.
– **Current Performance:** As of Friday, he’s batting .255/.355/.467 with 10 home runs, 27 RBIs, and a 136 OPS+. This home run tally would tie him with Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds for the team lead.
– **Fit for PNC Park:** The short distance to the right-field stands in PNC Park suits a left-handed power hitter like Bleday perfectly.
– **First-Hand Experience:** The Pirates witnessed his power last April.
– **Current Center Field Situation:** The Pirates’ center field platoon of Jack Suwinski and Michael A. Taylor is underperforming on a team that desperately needs offense but remains in the National League wild-card race.
### Moving On
After leading the Pirates with 26 homers last year, Jack Suwinski is struggling this season, batting just .174/.267/.308 with 6 home runs, 18 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 65. He has never been a high-average hitter, with a career batting average of .207. The Pirates sent the slumping left-hander to Triple-A Indianapolis on May 23. Typically, when the Pirates send a hitter to Triple-A, it signals an extended stay. However, Suwinski returned to Pittsburgh 11 days later, not because of improved performance but due to Ji Hwan Bae’s injury, which left the team without a left-handed platoon partner for Michael A. Taylor in center field. After several seasons of low batting averages and his current slump, the Pirates might be ready to trade Suwinski for a player with Bleday’s potential.
Similarly, the Pirates could be ready to part ways with middle infielder Liover Peguero. Once a highly regarded prospect, Peguero failed to secure the second base position during spring training. With Nick Gonzales now showing his potential as a hitter and solidifying his spot at second base, and prospect Termarr Johnson on the rise, Peguero’s future with the Pirates looks uncertain. Oneil Cruz is entrenched at shortstop, and Alika Williams, currently in Triple-A, is the top defensive shortstop in the organization, likely to be called up if Cruz gets injured. Jared Triolo, displaced from second base by Gonzales, is favored as the major league utility infielder. As these players develop, Peguero’s value to the Pirates diminishes.
### Making Sense for the A’s
It’s unclear how trading Bleday to the Pirates would benefit Oakland. Bleday, a first-round pick in the 2019 draft from Vanderbilt, was highly regarded for his offensive skills. After three average minor league seasons and an unsuccessful major league trial in 2022, Miami traded him to the A’s for AJ Puk. With a disappointing 2023 season where he hit just .195/.310/.355 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs, the A’s might wonder if his performance in 2024 is an anomaly and consider selling high.
The A’s might also be looking to build organizational depth. MLB Pipeline ranked their farm system 25th out of 30 teams before the 2024 season. With the Athletics planning to play in Sacramento’s minor league ballpark next year, their focus could be on maintaining competitiveness while bolstering their organization ahead of their move to Las Vegas.
If Suwinski regains his power and Peguero lives up to his previous hype, this trade could be beneficial for the A’s in the long run.
### The Last Word on a Possible Trade of Bleday to the Pirates
If there’s any substance to the rumored trade of Bleday to the Pirates, Ben Cherington should act swiftly. With a strong starting rotation and a relatively weak NL putting the Pirates in the wild-card race, this year’s trade deadline will see more buyers than sellers. Cherington, known for keeping his strategies discreet, must move quickly to strengthen his team and stay ahead of other potential buyers.
