Reds, OF JJ Bleday agree to 1-year, $1.4M contract

CINCINNATI — Outfielder JJ Bleday and the Reds agreed Saturday to a $1.4 million, one-year contract.

The 28-year-old hit .212 with 14 homers and 39 RBIs with the Athletics this year, down from a .243 average in 2024, when he set career bests with 20 homers and 60 RBIs for Oakland.

Selected fourth overall by Miami in the 2019 amateur draft, Bleday became a free agent last month when the A’s designated him for assignment and failed to offer a 2026 contract. His contract was automatically renewed by the A’s last March for $770,000 while in the major leagues. Had he remained on the team’s 40-man roster, he would have been eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.

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Bleday was the A’s Opening Day center fielder in 2024 and 2025. He has a .215 career average with 49 homers and 142 RBIs in four seasons with the Marlins (2022) and A’s.

In addition to his guaranteed salary, Bleday can earn additional performance bonuses.

The Reds opened a pair of roster spots by designating right-hander Keegan Thompson and fellow righty Lyon Richardson for assignment. Thompson agreed last month to a one-year contract calling for $1.3 million in the major leagues and $350,000 in the minors.

Also Saturday, Cincinnati acquired outfielder Dane Myers from Miami Marlins for minor league outfielder Ethan O’Donnell.

The 29-year-old Myers hit .235 with six homers, 31 RBIs and 18 stolen bases this year. He had a .245 average with 10 homers, 59 RBIs and 23 steals in three seasons with Miami.

O’Donnell, 23, batted .236 with seven homers, 56 RBIs and 20 stole bases this year for Double-A Chattanooga.