In 1952, Hatton moved to second base and was selected to the National League All-Star team, although he did not play in the July 8 game at Shibe Park (and hit only .212 for the season).

However, in 1954, Hatton's tenure in Cincinnati came to an abrupt end, as he appeared in only one game for the Redlegs before being traded to the Chicago White Sox on April 18.

The ChiSox in turn sent him to the Boston Red Sox five weeks later—swapping him and cash for eventual Hall of Fame third baseman George Kell.

Hatton was Boston's regular third baseman in 1954–55, then spent 1956 in a utility role for the Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles.

But the three-headed general manager experiment ended after 1966, with Richardson assuming sole GM duties, and Hatton's Astros compiled a record of only 164–221 (.426) in 2+1⁄2 years.