The Miami Marlins acquired 6-foot-7 left-handed pitcher A.J. Puk from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for outfielder JJ Bleday on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Bleday made his major league debut last year, hitting .167 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 65 games. He made 27 starts in center field.
Picked No. 4 in the 2019 draft, Bleday hit .228 with 20 homers and 52 RBIs in 85 games for Triple-A Jacksonville last year.
The 27-year-old Puk went 4-3 with a 3.12 ERA and four saves in 62 relief outings last season. He had Tommy John surgery in 2018 and a shoulder operation two years later, costing him two seasons — one being the virus-shortened 60-game 2020 campaign.
The A’s drafted Puk in the first round in 2016 and he’s spent time as both a starter and reliever.
