Red Sox trade Nate Eaton to Athletics

The Boston Red Sox traded outfielder Nate Eaton to the Athletics for 18-year-old right-handed minor-league pitcher Jareth Rayo, the first reported deal of the MLB offseason. The trade clears a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster as the team faces a roster crunch, and Eaton was out of minor-league options for next season. He appeared in 24 major-league games for Boston this year, hitting .160, and also played at Triple-A Worcester. Eaton played all three outfield positions and third base and was valued for his speed and defense. The deal was Athletics president of baseball operations Taylor Smith’s first reported acquisition; Smith previously served as a Red Sox assistant general manager.