The Athletics non-tendered Bleday on Friday.
Bleday lost his spot on the 40-man roster Tuesday, and he'll now depart the organization as a whole after not receiving a contract offer for the 2026 season. The 28-year-old outfielder slashed .212/.294/.404 with 14 homers, 39 RBI and 48 runs scored in 98 games with the A's in 2025 and should be able to at least land a minor-league deal this winter.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Designated for assignment
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The Athletics designated Bleday for assignment Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Bleday took a step back in 2025, finishing the season with a .698 OPS to go with 14 homers, 39 RBI, and 48 runs scored across 307 plate appearances in the majors. As a result, he'll lose his place on the Athletics' 40-man roster, helping to make room for the addition of three prospects ahead of December's Rule 5 Draft. The 28-year-old outfielder posted a .980 OPS over 132 plate appearances in the minors, however, which could be intriguing enough for another club to bring him in via waiver claim.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Taking seat against RHP
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
Bleday had started in both of the Athletics' previous two matchups against right-handed pitchers back on Friday and Saturday, but he'll take a seat versus Red Sox righty Lucas Giolito on Wednesday. With Tyler Soderstrom (groin) returning to his usual spot in left field following a brief absence, the Athletics will go with fellow left-handed hitter Carlos Cortes over Bleday in right field Wednesday. Cortes has produced five extra-base hits in 12 at-bats over his last six games and could end up playing ahead of Bleday more frequently if he's able to continue his hot hitting.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Idle against southpaw
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.
The left-handed-hitting Bleday had started in each of the last three games, but he'll hit the bench Sunday while the Reds send southpaw Nick Lodolo to the bump. Bleday will cede his spot in the lineup to Colby Thomas, who will cover center field and bat fifth.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Sitting against southpaw
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.
The left-handed-hitting Bleday had started in right field in each of the Athletics' previous three contests against right-handed pitchers, but he'll hit the bench while southpaw Mitch Farris toes the rubber for the Angels. The absence of Bleday clears a spot in the lineup for Colby Thomas, who will cover right field and bat third.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Hot hitting continues
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Bleday went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 17-4 win over the Angels.
Bleday was one of two Athletics to deliver a homer off the bench Saturday, as he went yard in the ninth inning following Carlos Cortes' blast in the eighth. Bleday has hit the ground running in September, going 7-for-14 with four homers and nine RBI over his four games this month. He's seeing a majority of the playing time in right field versus right-handed pitchers but is unlikely to attain anything more than that platoon role. For the season, Bleday has a .221/.308/.428 slash line with 14 homers, 38 RBI, 47 runs scored, 15 doubles and a stolen base over 312 plate appearances.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Blasts two bombs
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Bleday went 2-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and an additional run scored in Monday's 11-3 win over St. Louis.
Bleday delivered his first multi-homer game of the season Monday in a blowout win. The outfielder has bounced between Triple-A Las Vegas and Sacramento this year with uneven results, but the power has creeped up lately as he's slashed .230/.302/.460 with five homers and 11 RBI over his last 30 games.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Playing time trending down
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
The left-handed-hitting Bleday is on the bench for the third time in four matchups with right-handed pitchers and looks to have lost hold of a strong-side platoon role in the Athletics outfield. Until Denzel Clarke (adductor) returns from the injured list, the Athletics may continue to take a committee approach to right field rather than relying on Bleday or another player on an everyday basis.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Idle for series finale
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.
The left-handed-hitting Bleday had started in each of the Athletics' last three games against right-handed pitchers, but after mustering just one hit while striking out four times in 13 plate appearances over that stretch, he'll hit the bench Thursday. Carlos Cortes will fill in as the starting right fielder in place of Bleday as the Athletics take on Minnesota right-hander Jose Urena.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Getting regular run vs. RHPs
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Bleday will start in right field and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Twins.
Bleday will remain in the lineup for a third straight matchup with a right-handed starter (Bailey Ober) and appears to have settled into the strong side of a platoon in right field with the right-handed-hitting Colby Thomas. Since getting called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Aug. 1, Bleday has slashed .333/.395/.564 with two home runs and a 4:11 BB:K in 11 games.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Back with Athletics
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The Athletics recalled Bleday from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
With Miguel Andujar dealt to the Reds on Thursday, Bleday will rejoin the big club. Bleday has struggled at the plate with the Athletics this season, slashing .191/.288/.358 with eight home runs, 22 RBI, 30 runs scored, one stolen base and a 28:57 BB:K across 233 plate appearances.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Sent back to Triple-A
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The Athletics optioned Bleday to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.
Bleday was swapped off the 26-man active roster with another outfielder in Colby Thomas, who was called up from Triple-A and could settle into the short side of a platoon at a corner spot with either Tyler Soderstrom or Lawrence Butler while also offering depth in center behind Denzel Clarke. Though he was up with the Athletics for nearly a month during his latest stint in the big leagues, Bleday started in just nine of 26 games and slashed .135/.273/.324 with a 36.4 percent strikeout rate.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Idle Wednesday
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Bleday isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
After going 1-for-7 with a walk through the first two games of the series, Bleday will grab a seat on the bench to begin Wednesday's contest. His absence will allow Seth Brown to start in center field and bat eighth.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Absent from lineup against lefty
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Bleday is not in the lineup for Monday's contest in Texas.
It's a day off for the left-handed-hitting Bleday as the Rangers send southpaw Patrick Corbin to the bump. Max Schuemann will start in center field and hit ninth for the Athletics.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Receiving first day off
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
The 27-year-old outfielder will get his first day off of the season in Sunday's series finale, paving the way for Seth Brown to pick up a start in center. Bleday has delivered disappointing returns through the Athletics' first 15 games, batting .208 with one home run, one steal, nine runs and six RBI.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Breaks out of slump
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Bleday went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, three RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Padres.
Bleday broke out of a slump as he was hitting just .175 (7-for-40) with one extra-base hit in 11 games before Tuesday. He's showing good plate discipline with an 8:9 BB:K so this could be the start of a turnaround.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Having solid spring
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Bleday is hitting .304 (7-for-23) with two home runs in nine games this spring. He's set to return as the everyday starter in center field, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Prior to the 2024 campaign, Bleday's performance both at the major- and minor-league levels never really matched up to the pedigree of a No. 4 overall pick. He made some real strides last year, however, in his first full major-league season by hitting .243/.324/.437 with 20 home runs. He also improved against left-handed pitching by posting a .714 OPS against southpaws, which should keep him in the everyday lineup.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Out against left-hander
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Bleday is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Cubs.
The Cubs are sending lefty Justin Steele to the hill, so the left-handed-hitting Bleday will begin the game on the bench. Daz Cameron will get a start in center field for the Athletics.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Multi-hit effort Friday
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Bleday went 2-for-4 with a double in a win over the White Sox on Friday.
Bleday extended a modest hitting streak to four games with the productive night, one that also featured his third double in that span. The slugging outfielder has been in an atypical power drought -- he hasn't left the yard in the last 13 games -- but his current modest surge in production and the fact he's starting to get good wood on the ball again could be the harbinger of another resurgence. Bleday has demonstrated impressive pop in his breakout campaign, knocking exactly half of his 130 hits for extra bases, including a career-high 20 home runs.
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Athletics' JJ Bleday: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Bleday is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
Bleday will sit Sunday after a run of eight straight starts, during which he went 11-for-35 (.314 average) with three doubles and three home runs. Daz Cameron will shift to center field and Seth Brown will move to left, opening up first base for Tyler Nevin.
