MLB rumors: Reds’ trade candidate could interest Yankees, other contenders

MLB Trade Deadline season is just around the corner. Many teams are going to be attempting to become buyers at the deadline, aiming for a postseason run this summer. Just as we saw in 2025, there should be some teams going all out to win. On the other side, there will be some teams selling off players due to poor results on the field.

The Cincinnati Reds are going to be one of those tweener teams. They are good enough to make another run to the postseason again, but right now, they are not winning games. This could be a team that trades a few players away due to all the rising depth they have in their system. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand lists off outfielder JJ Bleday as one of those trade candidates based on how well he is playing this season.

“Bleday is off to the best start of his five-year career, hitting 11 home runs with 29 RBIs and a .930 OPS in 39 games after spending the first month of the season at Triple-A. The 28-year-old is earning $1.4 million this season and is under club control for two more seasons, and while he could be a key cog in the Reds’ lineup moving forward, he could also be an appealing trade chip if Cincinnati opts to be a seller this summer.”

Many teams will take a flyer on him. Serious contenders who should are the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, and even the San Diego Padres. These three teams are dealing with injuries in the outfield and should be all over Bleday if his name is added to the market.

For the Yankees, Aaron Judge is out for some time, as well as Giancarlo Stanton, who is hardly ever healthy. Jasson Dominguez is not turning into the player the Yankees want, and Spencer Jones is off to a slow start to his career. Bleday makes sense for New York.

Ronald Acuna Jr seems to be made of glass despite how talented he is. He has all the skills in the world to be an MVP-caliber player his entire career. The issue is nagging injuries. Adding Bleday gives them insurance and another strong bat in a lineup with the best record in baseball.

Lastly, the Padres. Roman Laurenao is out for the season with a shoulder injury, and the team doesn’t have much experience in outfield depth after releasing Nick Castellanos. With Fernando Tatis Jr. settling in at second base, the Friars will be looking for a lefty outfield bat. Bleday could be the perfect piece if on the market.

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