SF Giants can steal outfielder from former Bay Area neighbors after 40-man shuffle

The SF Giants have a need in their outfield this offseason and a potential option just became available. The Athletics have designated JJ Bleday for assignment which could allow the Giants to come in and steal him from their former Bay Area neighbors.

This move helps the A's make room for some prospects on their 40-man roster and also creates a nice opportunity for the Giants to add some depth in their outfield.

SF Giants can steal A's outfielder JJ Bleday

Bleday is a center fielder who both hits and throws left-handed. He is coming off a down year with the Oakland Athletics of Sacramento who will (maybe?) be headed to Las Vegas at some point. In 2025 he slashed .212/.294/.404 with 14 home runs and 39 runs batted in.

2024 was his best season in the pros as he slashed .243/.324/.437 with 20 homers and 60 runs batted in. His defense in center field grades out similarly to Jung Hoo Lee's meaning it was not that great in 2025. He would probably be better suited for right field if the Giants were to swoop in and claim him off waivers.

Waiver claims were not exactly San Francisco's bag in Buster Posey's first year as president of baseball operations. He and the front office were probably trying to familiarize themselves with the roster more and probably did not want to engage in a practice so closely linked to his predecessor Farhan Zaidi.

However, the Giants have made some waiver claims already this offseason. They just recently claimed outfielder Justin Dean off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers, so maybe Posey is taking a bit of a page out of Zaidi's book.

Bleday's projected arbitration salary is $2.2 million which is very affordable for a Giants team that seems likely to commit most of its resources to pitching this offseason. He could enter camp as the likely starter in right field with young players like Luis Matos and Drew Gilbert there behind him to challenge him for playing time.

Ever since the Giants traded away Mike Yastrzemski, they have been searching for a solution in right field. Adding Bleday would provide a bit more clarity and make people feel a little better about the outfield situation entering 2026.

Sure, Bleday is not Kyle Tucker. However, the Giants seems unlikely to dole out a nine-figure contract to anyone this offseason so maybe a sneaky waiver claim like Bleday would be more their speed.