The Athletics made their first real deadline move by sending infielder Brett Harris to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league right-hander Ben Hansen.
Harris had just been designated for assignment a few days earlier, a move that cleared room on the 40-man roster for the promotion of Joshua-Kuroda Grauer. Kuroda-Grauer wasted little time making noise, turning in a three-hit big league debut for the A’s.
The deal comes at a time when Oakland’s infield picture has been thinned out by injuries. The club has already been without Luis Severino and designated hitter Brent Rooker, and it recently took hits with Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom going down as well.
Wilson reinjured his shoulder and could be out for an extended stretch, though surgery is not expected. Soderstrom is dealing with left hip impingement and is expected back in the coming weeks.
Hansen, who the A’s have assigned to High-A Lansing, is a 6-foot-6, 210-pound righty with a profile that suggests relief work is his lane. He posted a 4.75 ERA in 41.2 innings with Boston’s High-A affiliate before the trade. The 24-year-old was drafted in the 20th round in 2024 and began his pro career as a starter, but after struggling in Low-A as a starter, he moved to the bullpen in High-A.
Brett Harris, meanwhile, leaves the organization after being drafted by the A’s in the seventh round in 2021 and appearing in parts of three big league seasons. He showed some promise last year, hitting .274 across 84 plate appearances, but he managed only six plate appearances this season and went hitless.
The Red Sox had reasons to be interested. Harris has produced at Triple-A Las Vegas over the last two seasons, and he also brings a strong defensive resume.
He’s been effective at third base, where the glove matters most, and he can also handle shortstop, second base and first base. That versatility, along with flashes of offensive upside, made him an appealing pickup for Boston.
In Other News...
As Finally Gave Fans The Response They Needed Vs Dodgers
After getting rolled in the first two games of the set, the Athletics finally gave their fans something to sit with in Sacramento, beating the Dodgers 7-1 and snapping a four-game losing streak. J.T. Ginn set the tone by working six strong innings, and the lineup backed him with steady pressure, including home runs from Jonah Heim and Shea Langeliers as the As turned a rough stretch into a much-needed finish.
The offensive support kept coming beyond the long balls, with Nick Kurtz and Colby Thomas helping add to the cushion as Oakland climbed to 41 wins on the season. The win also sends the club into a day off with at least a little momentum, and after the way this series started, that reset probably feels just as important as the result itself. [Read more 🡒]
Royals Revisit A Familiar Bullpen Answer As Pressure Builds
The Royals are turning to a familiar arm as they try to steady a bullpen that has been hit hard this season. Kansas City signed right-hander Scott Barlow to a minor league contract, bringing back a pitcher who spent parts of six seasons in the organization before moving on to other stops, including a recent stint with Oakland.
Barlow most recently pitched for the Athletics, who let him go in June, and the Royals are hoping he can provide needed depth as they sort through a relief group that has struggled to keep runs off the board. Even if his role ends up being modest at first, the move gives Kansas City another veteran option to evaluate as pressure builds on the bullpen. [Read more 🡒]