The Boston Red Sox opened the MLB offseason by moving outfielder Nate Eaton to the Athletics, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
Boston’s return in the deal has not been revealed, and no additional details were available at the time of the report. More information is expected as the transaction is finalized.
Eaton, a left fielder, has yet to find much traction at the big-league level with the bat. In 137 games, he has hit .221 with three home runs, 23 RBIs and 26 walks, while posting a .601 OPS. Even with those offensive struggles, he has still produced 0.9 WAR in his major league career.
His 2026 season was especially rough at the plate. Eaton finished with a .160 average, one homer and six RBIs, leaving him with limited impact offensively for Boston.
The move gives Eaton a fresh start with the Athletics, while the Red Sox have officially begun shaping their offseason plans. For now, though, the key piece of the return remains unknown.
With the first reported trade of the winter already completed, more activity could be on the way as teams start rearranging their rosters for the 2027 season.
There is also chatter that Boston could be active with Jarren Duran this offseason. Rumors that he might be dealt surfaced ahead of the World Series, and Duran is expected to be “widely expected” to be available this winter.
The Red Sox have a strong roster, but not enough depth to get past the AL Wild Card. Maybe that changes in 2027.
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