Red Sox Trade Nate Eaton to Athletics for Jareth Rayo

The Boston Red Sox traded outfielder Nate Eaton to the Athletics for minor-league right-hander Jareth Rayo, the clubs’ first reported trade of the offseason. Boston announced the deal on October 29, less than 24 hours after the World Series ended. Eaton, 29, hit .160 with one home run and six RBIs in 24 games with the Red Sox during the 2026 season. He had spent much of the year moving between the major leagues and Triple-A. Rayo, 18, went 1-1 with a 5.50 ERA in 11 Dominican Summer League games in 2026. He pitched 36 innings in the league and had not advanced beyond rookie ball, according to reporting about his development. The deal gives Boston a young pitching prospect, but no immediate major-league role for Rayo was established. Eaton’s departure also opens a place on Boston’s 40-man roster. RosterResource projected the Red Sox at 44 players before the trade, counting players returning from the injured list, and said the club still needed to create three additional openings afterward. Eaton had exhausted his final option year, a factor in the roster decision, according to reports. Boston did not publicly state that roster pressure was its reason for making the trade. The...