{"id":77425,"date":"2024-06-21T14:32:54","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T18:32:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=77425"},"modified":"2024-06-21T14:32:54","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T18:32:54","slug":"trade-rumor-athletics-bleday-pirates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/06\/21\/trade-rumor-athletics-bleday-pirates\/","title":{"rendered":"Rumor: Pirates and Athletics Trade of Slugging Outfielders Possible"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Oakland Athletics could be willing to trade <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bledajj01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">JJ Bleday<\/a> to the Pittsburgh Pirates for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/suwinja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jack Suwinski<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pegueli01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Liover Peguero<\/a>. At least that\u2019s what an MLB executive suggested to Noah Hiles of the <em>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Pirates insider <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_NoahHiles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@_NoahHiles<\/a> on a deal an MLB executive told him could be a possibility:<\/p>\n<p>Liover Peguero and Jack Suwinski for A&#8217;s CF JJ Bleday<\/p>\n<p>Bleday is 26. Leads MLB in doubles. Is under team control for 4 more years.<\/p>\n<p>I would do this deal in a heartbeat.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThePoniExpress\/status\/1803887987953914274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 20, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>There\u2019s no evidence that either general manager has proposed such a deal. But if there\u2019s anything to this rumor, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington should jump on it \u2013 yesterday.<\/p>\n<h2>Pirates Trade Rumor: Eyeing Outfield Depth<\/h2>\n<p>Bleday is a 26-year-old center fielder. Why would he be attractive to the Pirates? Let me count the ways. He\u2019s not eligible for arbitration until 2026 or free agency until 2029. Entering Friday\u2019s action, he\u2019s batting .255\/.355\/.467, 10 HR, 27 RBI, and 136 OPS+. That home run total would tie him with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mccutan01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrew McCutchen<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/reynobr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bryan Reynolds<\/a> for the team lead. The short distance to the right field stands in PNC Park is tailor-made for a left-handed power hitter like Bleday. The Pirates got a first-hand look at his power last April. The Pirates\u2019 center field platoon of Suwinski and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/taylomi02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael A. Taylor<\/a> is badly underachieving on a team that sorely needs offense yet finds itself in the thick of the National League wild-card race.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6IQIcAxpwzk?si=YUPPojkGb3PKxKf6\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Moving On<\/h3>\n<p>After leading the Pirates with 26 homers last year, Suwinski is batting a paltry .174\/.267\/.308, 6 HR, 18 RBI, and an OPS+ of 65. He\u2019s never been much of a hitter for average. His career batting average is .207. The Pirates decided to <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/05\/23\/pirates-suwinski-triple-a-indianapolis\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">send the struggling left-handed hitter to triple-A<\/a> Indianapolis on May 23. Whenever the Pirates send a hitter back to Triple-A, a plan usually involves a long stay. However, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/06\/04\/pirates-roster-moves-suwinski\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Suwinski was back in Pittsburgh<\/a> 11 days later. It wasn\u2019t a promotion based on merit. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/baeji01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ji Hwan Bae<\/a> had gone on the injured list, leaving the Bucs without a left-handed platoon partner with Taylor in center field. After three seasons of low batting averages and the current slump, the Pirates may be ready to move on from Suwinski and trade him for a player with Bleday&#8217;s resume.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, the Pirates will also be ready to move on from middle infielder Peguero. Once a highly regarded prospect, he failed to survive a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/01\/14\/pirates-whos-on-second-base\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">spring training competition<\/a> for the second base position. Now that he\u2019s started to reach his potential as a hitter, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gonzani01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Gonzales<\/a> looks entrenched at second base for a long time to come, or at least until 20-year-old prospect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=johnso008ter&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Termarr Johnson<\/a> moves up the ladder to Pittsburgh. Nobody is moving <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cruzon01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oneil Cruz<\/a> from shortstop. However, the best defensive shortstop in the organization is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willial04.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alika Will<\/a>, who is currently in Triple-A. In the event of an injury to Cruz, Williams is more likely to get the call. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/triolja01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jared Triolo<\/a>, displaced as the second baseman by Gonzales\u2019 resurgence, is the organization\u2019s favorite as the major league utility infielder. As these players grow, Peguero shrinks.<\/p>\n<h3>Making Sense for the A&#8217;s<\/h3>\n<p>How this trade of Bleday to the Pirates would make any sense for Oakland is anybody\u2019s guess. Bleday was a No. 1 pick in the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2019\/05\/11\/j-j-bleday-2019-mlb-draft-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">2019 June Amateur Draft<\/a> out of <a href=\"https:\/\/vucommodores.com\/sports\/baseball\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vanderbilt<\/a> by the Miami Marlins. At the time, his offensive skills were highly regarded. After three so-so minor league seasons and an unsuccessful major league trial in 2022, Miami dealt him to the A\u2019s for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pukaj01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-06-21_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">AJ Puk<\/a>. After hitting just .195\/.310\/.355, 10 HR, and 27 RBI in 2023, the A\u2019s might wonder if 2024 is an aberration. They may feel they\u2019d be selling high.<\/p>\n<p>It could also come from a desire to build some organizational depth. Before the 2024 season began, MLB Pipeline ranked the Athletics\u2019 farm system 25th out of 30 teams. With the Athletics scheduled to play in Sacramento\u2019s minor league ballpark next year, their primary concern may be keeping their head above water while building up the organization in time for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/04\/30\/oakland-athletics-relocation-to-las-vegas-john-fisher-funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">move to Las Vegas<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Then again, if Suwinski regains his power stroke and Peguero begins to live up to his once-top prospect hype, this deal could be suitable for the A\u2019s in the future.<\/p>\n<h3>The Last Word on a Possible Trade of Bleday to the Pirates<\/h3>\n<p>Cherington should act quickly if there\u2019s anything rumored about the trade of Bleday to the Pirates. A strong starting rotation and a relatively weak NL have put the Pirates in the wild-card race. This year\u2019s trade deadline will have more buyers than sellers. It\u2019s hard to know where Cherington\u2019s thoughts are in this regard. He plays his cards close to the vest, but he must<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/06\/07\/insider-discusses-pirates-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">\u00a0move fast<\/a> to improve his team and get a head start on the other buyers.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo: \u00a9 Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Oakland Athletics could be willing to trade JJ Bleday to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jack Suwinski and Liover Peguero. At least that\u2019s what an MLB executive suggested 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5010,"featured_media":77435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,1071],"tags":[610,3215,1374,5720,3435,3329,283,3434],"class_list":["post-77425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pirates","category-mlb","tag-andrew-mccutchen","tag-ben-cherington","tag-bryan-reynolds","tag-jack-suwinski","tag-jj-bleday","tag-liover-peguero","tag-oakland-athletics","tag-oneil-cruz"],"modified_by":"Matt Graves","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5010"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77425"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77425\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}