The Reds signed outfielder JJ Bleday to a one-year, $1.4 million deal in the offseason. While he performed well in Spring Training, the Reds opted to go with Will Benson and Nathaniel Lowe over Bleday, since Bleday still had options remaining.
There were a number of factors as to why Bleday chose Cincinnati in the offseason.
“I think it was a bunch of variables,” Bleday told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. “One of the main ones was a winning atmosphere, a winning culture. They made the playoffs last year. … It’s close to home where I grew up in Pittsburgh.
“Obviously, they’re just not going to hand you a spot. “You’ve got to work for it, got to earn it. That was still enough for me to hear them out and want to come here.”
Bleday is Trying to Force the Reds’ Hand