​Following Tuesday night’s defeat to the Washington Nationals, the Boston Red Sox reportedly bolstered their infield depth in a minor trade with the Athletics. Chris Cotillo of Masslive.com reports that Boston is “closing in on” a deal to acquire infielder Brett Harris from Oakland, while Andrew Parker of SoxProspects notes that pitching prospect Ben Hansen is headed to the A’s in the exchange.
About Harris: The 28-year-old infielder has appeared in parts of three seasons for Oakland with limited Major League success. In 73 games, Harris owns a .194/.307/.289/.595 line with three home runs and 17 RBIs. He spent most of the 2026 season with Triple-A El Paso, where he hit .336/.441/.537/.978 with five homers and 34 RBIs, ranking in the 93rd percentile in hard-hit rate. He has appeared in five major league games this season, going 0-for-4 with one walk. Defensively, Harris has primarily played third base, posting five defensive runs saved in 183 innings at the position in 2025, and has also spent time at first and second base in the majors. He was designated for assignment on Monday and will likely fill the roster spot created by the designation of reliever Tommy Kahnle.
About Hansen: New Athletics right-hander Ben Hansen drew interest this spring. He stands 6-foot-6 with a 7+ foot extension. His fastball sits 92-96 mph and profiles big, with good velocity and swing-and-mitch rates, though control can be inconsistent. His curveball has high whiff and chase rates, and he also throws a cutter, a sweeper, and a changeup. In 41.2 innings this season across 13 appearances (two starts for Greenville in 2026), Hansen has allowed 22 earned runs, striking out 11.23 batters per nine innings. Across 102.1 professional innings in his career at Single-A Salem and Greenville, he owns a 5.63 ERA. He’s not ranked among SoxProspects.com’s top 60 organizational prospects, described as having “good size and elite extension” but “subpar control.”
In other Red Sox news: Left-handed rookie Connelly Early left Tuesday night’s game with left elbow discomfort after four scoreless innings. Interim manager Chad Tracy indicated that Early would undergo further imaging on Wednesday to assess the damage, as Boston aims to bounce back from the latest setback.