OAKLAND, Cailf. — A person familiar with the deal said Saturday night that the Oakland Athletics are close to finalizing a deal that would send right-hander Rich Harden to the Boston Red Sox for Triple-A first baseman Lars Anderson and a player to be named.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade wasn’t completed.

Other sources, including the Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle and NESN, reported the deal was complete pending a physical by Harden.

The oft-injured Harden is 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA in five starts since coming off the 60-day disabled list July 1.

Harden will help bolster the Red Sox rotation with Clay Buchholz on the disabled list.
Anderson, a former member of the Portland Sea Dogs, was hitting .261 with 10 homers and 57 RBI for Triple-A Pawtcuket in 376 at-bats.

The Boston Red Sox acquired infielder Mike Aviles from the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, giving up infielder Yamaico Navarro and minor league pitcher Kendal Volz in the trade.

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Aviles hit .222 with five home runs and 31 RBI in 53 games with the Royals. He’s expected to fill a utility infielder’s role with the Red Sox. Aviles spent part of the season at Triple-A Omaha and had been unhappy with his lack of playing time since being recalled July 20.

He’ll give the Red Sox insurance until Jed Lowrie comes off the disabled list. Lowrie, sidelined by a sore shoulder, will begin a rehab assignment Monday.

“A guy I think our organization has kind of liked from afar for a while,” Boston Manager Terry Francona said of Aviles.

“He’s that guy who can really hit left-handers, actually both, but the ability to play short, second, third. He can run, hit the ball out of the ballpark. How we would use him, I don’t know. Some of this is probably going to depend on Jed because Jed isn’t too far away.”


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