The Red Sox swung a trade with the Athletics on Thursday afternoon, acquiring 18-year-old right-hander Jareth Rayo for outfielder Nate Eaton.
The deal represents the first trade of the offseason, less than 24 hours after the World Series concluded Wednesday night. It also marks the first transaction between Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Taylor Smith, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant general manager in Boston before taking over as the Athletics’ president of baseball operations last week.
By trading Eaton, who turns 30 in December and will be out of minor league options next year, the Red Sox clear a spot on their 40-man roster and bring in a developmental lottery ticket from the Athletics in Rayo.
A native of Nicaragua, Rayo signed with the A’s for $70,000 as an international free agent last October and made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League this season. In 11 outings (nine starts) for the DSL Athletics, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound righty posted a 5.50 ERA (5.94 FIP) with 36 strikeouts to 20 walks over 36 innings. Opposing hitters batted .243 against him.
Rayo, who turns 19 in November, was not ranked among the Athletics’ top 30 prospects by Baseball America. According to Baseball America’s Ian Cundall, the young hurler topped out at 94.6 mph with his low-90s fastball this season. He also featured a changeup and slider to round out his three-pitch mix.
Assuming the Red Sox do not move him in another deal this winter, Rayo is a candidate to make his stateside debut in the rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2027.
(Picture of Nate Eaton: Natalie Reid/Getty Images)
