Athletics Agree to Terms with Medina, Waldichuk; Non-tender JJ Bleday
The Athletics have agreed to terms with right-hander Luis Medina and left-hander Ken Waldichuk, the team announced Friday. Both agreed to one-year contracts for 2026, avoiding arbitration. Additionally, the Athletics did not tender a contract to outfielder JJ Bleday for 2026. Bleday is now a free agent.
Luis Medina — $835,000
Luis Medina, a starter, had Tommy John surgery in August 2024. Consequently, he did not pitch at all in 2025 due to the recovery time. However, he did start 25 games and toss six in relief for the then-Oakland Athletics between 2023 and 2024. Across 149 2/3 innings, he went 5–14 with a 5.35 ERA, 132 ERA-minus, and 1.530 WHIP. Of the 675 batters he faced, he struck out 138 (20.4%), walked 77 (11.4%), and yielded 18 home runs (2.7%). This resulted in a 9.0 K–BB%. For reference, the major league averages over the span he pitched were 22.7 K%, 8.4 BB%, 3.1 HR%, and 14.3 K–BB%. He joined the Athletics at the 2022 Trade Deadline in the trade that sent Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino to the New York Yankees.
Ken Waldichuk — $825,000
Ken Waldichuk, also a starter, had Tommy John surgery in May 2024, completely wiping out his 2024 season. He began 2025 on the 60-day injured list and, on June 22, began a rehab assignment. After pitching one game for the Single-A Stockton Ports, he joined the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators for the rest of the season.
On the major league level, Waldichuk started 29 games and pitched 13 in relief for the Athletics between 2022 and 2023. Across 175 2/3 innings, he has gone 6–11 with a 5.28 ERA, 130 ERA-minus, and 1.491 WHIP. He has faced 785 batters, striking out 165 (20.7%), walking 81 (10.3%), and surrendering 29 home runs (3.7%). This has given him a 10.7 K–BB%, 3.5 percentage points lower than the major league average of 14.2% over the same span. The major league averages for the other ratios in this span, for reference, are 22.6 K%, 8.4 BB%, and 3.0 HR%. Waldichuk came to the Athletics in the same trade as Medina.
JJ Bleday — Free Agent
JJ Bleday came to the Athletics prior to the 2023 season in the trade that sent reliever A.J. Puk to the Miami Marlins. He split 2023 between Las Vegas and the Athletics before playing 159 games for the A’s in 2024. Of the 159, 157 were in center field, 144 as starts. Across 642 plate appearances, he slashed .243 (139-for-572)/.324/.437 with 43 doubles, four triples, 20 homers, and 60 RBI.
Bleday’s production fell in 2025, leading to him being optioned to Las Vegas for 28 games across two stints: six between May 27 and June 1 and 22 in July. At the big-league level, Bleday played 98 games in 2025. Across 642 plate appearances, he slashed .212 (65-for-307)/.294/.404 with 17 doubles, 14 home runs, and 39 RBI.
The Athletics have outfielder Lawrence Butler and outfielder/DH Brent Rooker locked up long-term. When 2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz made the majors, it pushed Tyler Soderstrom from first base to left field. That, combined with Bleday’s production drop and the emergence of rookie outfielders Denzel Clarke and Carlos Cortes, left no place on the roster for Bleday.
Looking Ahead
The signings of Luis Medina and Ken Waldichuk mean the Athletics will avoid arbitration with these two. Consequently, the only Athletics player who will face arbitration this offseason is catcher Shea Langeliers. Spotrac estimates that his salary will be $3 million in 2026.
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