The Red Sox added newly acquired outfielder Rajai Davis to the active roster on Thursday.
Dave Dombrowski, president of Sox baseball operations, consummated the deal for Davis on Wednesday, sending minor leaguer Rafael Rincones, 18, to the Athletics in return.
Davis, 36, was .233 (70-for-300) with 17 doubles, two triples, and five home runs in 100 games with the A’s this season. He’s also stolen 26 bases in 32 attempts.
Since the All-Star break, Davis has gone 23-for-76 (.303) with an .848 OPS and 11 stolen bases over 30 games. Davis has stolen at least 20 bases in 10 of his major league seasons, recording 40 or more steals five times with a career-best 50 in 2010.
The Red Sox are Davis’ seventh team in 12 big league seasons. He’s also played for Pittsburgh (2006-07), San Francisco (2007-08), Oakland (2008-10, 2017), Toronto (2011-13), Detroit (2014-15), and Cleveland (2016).
With the Indians Davis led the league in steals, swiping 43 bags and also had a career-highs with 12 home runs, 33 walks, and 106 strikeouts. At age 35, Davis’ stolen bases in 2016 made him the oldest since Rickey Henderson topped the American League with 66 steals at the age of 39 in 1998.
Davis will wear No. 25 with the Red Sox for the first time in his career. Before he was outrighted on June 22, pitcher Kyle Kendrick was last to wear that number with Boston. Jackie Bradley wore No. 25 from 2013-16 before trading up to No. 19 this season. Other notable Red Sox to wear No. 25 include Mike Lowell, Ellis Burks, Don Baylor, and Tony Conigliaro.
The last deals between the Red Sox and Athletics came in 2015. In May, Boston traded Edward Mujica and cash to Oakland for player to be named or cash. In July, Boston got Ryan Cook from Oakland. Cook appeared in five games with the Sox, but hasn’t played in the major leagues since.
Davis will be a free agent after this season.
Welcome Rajai Davis to Red Sox Nation. He’s on Twitter at @rajai11davis.