Trade: Marlins, A's Swap Recent Top First-Round Picks

The Miami Marlins and Oakland A's have pulled off a big trade of high-end first-round picks from the 2019 Draft, with the No. 4 overall pick J.J. Bleday heading to the west coast in return for No. 6 pick A.J. Puk.

Trade news: The Oakland A’s and Miami Marlins are swapping former top 6 picks. Outfielder JJ Bleday is headed to the A’s, and left-hander A.J. Puk is going to the Marlins. @Ken_Rosenthal was on the deal first.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 12, 2023

The Marlins had long been after Puk from Oakland — he's a big lefty with tons of upside, and a potential closer in the making after his first full major league season saw him use his big 6'7" frame to strike out 10.4 batters per nine innings, record a 3.12 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP and four saves.  He'll now enter the 'Stottlemyre school of wizardry' in Miami, as Marlins beat writer Craig Mish put it. 

Bleday, on the other hand, has had some troubles finding his footing in professional ball. He struggled to a .167 average and a .586 OPS in his major league debut last year with the Marlins, in 238 plate appearances. "He's not ready yet to hit major league pitching," said former MLB GM Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio Sunday morning. 

"I think the Marlins won this deal, hands down," said Bowden. 

Puk, 27, had battled injuries in his build-up to finally breaking through, but he finally appears ready to take that next big step. 

"I think he can develop into a closer," added Bowden.

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