On Wednesday, the Athletics found themselves with one of the top picks in the Rule 5 Draft. They came in with the sixth overall pick, and there was some good talent to choose from.
After the Pittsburgh Pirates took RHP Carter Baumier from the Baltimore Orioles, the A's selected RHP Ryan Watson from the San Francisco Giants.
Watson spent this past season with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, coming out of the bullpen. He made 46 appearances, holding together a 4.97 ERA across 50.2 innings of work. However, he will not be suiting up for the A's in 2026.
Athletics deal Rule 5 Draft pick to Red Sox for middle infield prospect
Shortly after the A's selected Ryan Watson, it was announced that the Boston Red Sox were working on a trade to acquire him. Boston did not have a pick in the Rule 5 Draft, so they were limited to making deals with teams that took players with high upside.
The two sides agreed on a deal that would send Watson to Boston in exchange for middle infield prospect Justin Riemer, via Masslive's Chris Cotillo.
Boston receives a player that could help their bullpen, while the A's get a middle infielder who they can move down to Double-A or Triple-A since Riemer was not a Rule 5 Draft pick.
While Riemer is not the most exciting prospect, he does offer some good value. He is considered to have elite plate discipline, having a good understanding of the zone and a low chase rate.
On top of that, his defensive capabilities are graded high. He can play both shortstop and second base, which adds more depth in the minors. This will not move the needle for most, but it is a trade that helps out both clubs.
More MLB news:
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- Athletics manager Mark Kotsay ready to trade Sacramento limbo for Las Vegas reality
- Yankees' Max Fried reveals his status for the upcoming World Baseball Classic
- Former GM predicts the Yankees to land Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Brewers
- Athletics shying away from top targets in search for second baseman