The following release is courtesy of the Athletics
The Athletics traded right-handed pitcher Ryan Watson to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for infielder Justin Riemer, the club announced today. Watson was selected by the A’s in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 draft earlier today.
Riemer, 23, was originally selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of Wright State University in Ohio. Across parts of two seasons with Double-A Portland, High-A Greenville, and the FCL Red Sox, he batted .239 (84-for-352) with a .418 on-base percentage. He has 98 walks and 89 strikeouts in 120 career games.
Watson, 28, was signed to a minor league contract by Baltimore in 2020 and was traded to the Giants on Aug. 9, 2024, for cash considerations. He is 24-17 with a 4.14 ERA in 157 games, including 34 starts, across five minor league seasons.
Per @ChrisCotillo, the Red Sox are sending INF Justin Riemer to the A’s in exchange for RHP Ryan Watson.
Riemer played 76 games for the Adv A Greenville Drive last season, slashing .232/.423/.275 with 1 HR, 16 RBIs, and 9 SBs. pic.twitter.com/nUfHqYhSVr https://t.co/TL4Ua20np3
— Jack Aylmer (@Jack_Aylmer) December 10, 2025
More Athletics Offseason Content from Sactown Sports
MLB free agency is underway as the Winter Meetings begin in Orlando, Florida, where all 30 teams will look to bolster their chances of adding talent ahead of the 2026 season.
Following their first season in West Sacramento, the Athletics are looking to capitalize on a strong 2025 campaign that saw the green and gold finish with a 76-86 record (best win-loss record since 2021).
One year removed from handing out a franchise-record $67 million deal to starting pitcher Luis Severino, The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon report that the A’s “are showing little interest in simply dumping” their ace in an effort to offload salary.
Severino, who went 8-11 with a 4.54 ERA over 29 starts, still has $42 million guaranteed on his deal over the next two seasons (player option for 2027).
As was the case last season, the Athletics will look to add salary in MLB free agency–not offload–meaning they could be lurking as a surprise destination for this year’s player class.
While Rosenthal and Sammon don’t expect the A’s to chase free agent infielder Bo Bichette or trade for Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, they did list a few names to keep an eye on if the Athletics address their second base position via trade:
A’s Offseason Rumblings: Severino & searching for a second baseman
Upcoming Athletics & MLB Offseason Schedule
Early-January – MLB Arbitration Negotiations
Mid-February – Pitchers & Catchers report for Spring Training
Saturday, February 21st – @ Chicago White Sox (Spring Training Opener)
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