Cincinnati Reds Can't Afford to Trade This Outfielder

JJ Bleday has been one of the few bright spots this season offensively for the Cincinnati Reds. Without making the Opening Day roster, Bleday is slashing .234/.343/.469 while providing a serviceable glove in the outfield.

He has 17 home runs as well as 44 RBIs on the season. He has been everything this club has needed him to be and then some. Given the state of his contract, teams will be begging to make a deal for him before August 3rd at 6:00 pm.

The Reds can't afford to lose him. There is so much uncertainty as to what the Reds will do this season, and what will happen in the next few seasons. They need to limit as many question marks as they can. That starts by keeping, and potentially extending the 28 year old outfielder.

He has struggled as of late, slashing .192/.306/.317 with only four home runs in his last 30 games. Trade value certainly would be lower than it would have been a few months ago. It just doesn't make sense to get rid of a player in a slump with several years of team control, especially when he plays a position of need.

Despite the slump, he is still having a career year. He is on pace to have a career high in both homers and RBI, as well as Batting average, OBP, Slugging, and OPS.

The core of this offense is Sal Stewart, and Elly De La Cruz. The Reds need to hit on several more guys to get this roster into a spot where they can compete at a high level. Outside of Spencer Steer, Bleday is the only other player that fans should have any kind of trust in being a consistent and productive hitter.

As important as this deadline will be, trading Bleday is losing a part of the roster that is going to have to be inevitably replaced immediately after. Nick Krall and company should focus their energy elsewhere and have the confidence that at least 1/3 of the outfield will be set in 2027.

There are a lot of names the Reds can and will be moving on from before next week's deadline. JJ Bleday is one of the few guys who shouldn't be touched.