Red Sox working on trade to acquire infielder Brett Harris from Athletics

The Boston Red Sox are in discussions to acquire infielder Brett Harris from the Oakland Athletics, according to reports published Monday. The potential move would shift a player Oakland moved to designate for assignment over the weekend into Boston’s organization as the teams continue to manage roster and depth needs during the second half.

Brett Harris has been with the Athletics organization and was designated for assignment following Oakland’s recent player acquisition activity, a context that matters because it points to opportunity, not just performance, driving the trade consideration. When a player is DFA’d, the clock forces teams to either keep the player on the 40-man roster through a clearing process, trade him, or risk losing him to waivers, which often increases urgency for both sides.

The reported framework has the Red Sox sending a return piece back to Oakland: minor league right-handed pitcher Ben Hansen. The same reporting also indicates this would essentially be an exchange of infield need in Boston for pitching depth in Oakland, with Hansen headed back to the Athletics as part of the arrangement under discussion.

For Boston, the appeal of adding Harris is fairly straightforward. Infield depth becomes more valuable as lineups adjust for form and health over a long season, and teams commonly prefer to add versatile internal options who can support multiple roles, whether at the major league level later or in the upper levels of the system. A Harris acquisition, in this case, would also provide the Red Sox with another path to shuffle internal promotions if their plan requires it.

For Oakland, sending out a player like Harris after a designation decision indicates the Athletics are looking to reshape their immediate organizational balance. Trades built around a DFA candidate often reflect a team’s broader strategy, such as redirecting resources toward other prospects or aligning the 40-man roster with upcoming needs. The reported inclusion of Hansen suggests Oakland’s return is focused on pitching development, a staple of how organizations rebuild system value.

Still, this is not a completed transaction. As with most rumor-driven trades, the Red Sox and Athletics would still need to agree on final terms and complete the transaction process, and details can change up to the moment of execution. The best immediate next step for teams and fans is to watch for formal confirmation and, once complete, where Harris and Hansen land within each club’s organizational pipeline.