A’s trade Rajai Davis to Red Sox for a minor league outfielder

Boston gets a healthy outfielder with speed while Jackie Bradley Jr. is injured.

With Jackie Bradley Jr. on the disabled list with a sprained thumb — thanks to some aggressive slide strategy last night — the Red Sox have traded for A’s outfielder Rajai Davis.

We pegged Rajai Davis as a possibility for an August trade after the non-waiver mania had concluded, as he’s been traded at or after the non-waiver trade deadline before (starting in 2007 with the Giants).

Rumors started swirling thanks to reports from Nick Cafardo earlier in the afternoon, and increased after Boston designated outfielder Steve Selsky for assignment.

He’s only hitting .233 so far this year, but has swiped 26 bags and has speed — something the Red Sox could use while JBJ is out of commission for a week or more. He hit a more impressive .317/.388/.467 in July, but his line has dropped back down to Earth in August as he’s putting up .211/.268/.342.

The Red Sox are sending back minor league outfielder Rafael Rincones, who is a younger prospect at only 18 years old and has only played in the Dominican Summer League thus far. This year in the DSL he hit .258/.373/.369 with 32 walks and 51 strikeouts.