"At 11:45 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, Conor Jackson went from sitting on the bench for a team that is a season-high 16 games below .500 to the middle of the postseason race.

The A's traded Jackson, a former Cal player who was their first baseman much of the season until Brandon Allen's emergence, to the AL East-leading Red Sox along with cash. Oakland received right-handed reliever Jason Rice, 4-5 with four saves and a 3.69 ERA at Triple-A Pawtucket.

"It's awesome," Jackson said. "I don't think a guy in my position could ask for anything better - a big-market team with probably the best fans in baseball.""