The A’s kicked off the 2025 Rule 5 Draft by grabbing right-handed flamethrower Ryan Watson—an experienced Triple-A reliever with a 95 mph fastball, a whiff-heavy slider, and the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that screams “major league bullpen help.” But just minutes after landing him, they flipped him to the Red Sox for 23-year-old infielder Justin Riemer, a high-OBP contact bat with zero power and a versatile glove. It was a whiplash-inducing sequence that left A’s fans scratching their heads: why burn a Rule 5 pick on a guy you’re not going to keep, especially one who struck out over 28% of hitters last year in the PCL? 

Turns out, this was a Moneyball move through and through. Riemer is a classic front office pet project—an OBP savant with more walks than strikeouts, elite pitch recognition, and the potential to be a dirt-cheap utility guy in a couple years. No roster crunch, no 26-man obligation, just pure A’s efficiency. But it also means giving up a nearly MLB-ready bullpen arm in Watson, who was Boston’s target all along. So did the A’s just get fleeced—or are they playing a longer game, betting that Riemer’s bat control has more long-term value than another replaceable middle reliever? Depends on whether you believe in swing rates or spin rates. 

Las Vegas A's, A's Rule 5 Draft, Ryan Watson, Justin Riemer, A's trade news, Red Sox Rule 5, MLB Rule 5 Draft 2025, Athletics prospect analysis, Boston Red Sox trade, A's farm system, Ryan Watson scouting report, Justin Riemer highlights, Rule 5 MLB 2025, A's roster moves, MLB prospect trades, Moneyball A's, Athletics bullpen, Red Sox prospects, A's player development, Watson Riemer trade 

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