The Red Sox are sending left-hander Connelly Early to the Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. The teams have not announced the deal.
It’s a fascinating one-for-one swap between two teams in the thick of the playoff race. Boston currently holds the final AL Wild Card spot. The club adds a former top prospect who’s broken out in D.C. Mead likely slots in at third base, with Caleb Durbin potentially moving to second base. Washington sits two games out of a postseason bid. The Nats have the high-scoring offense in baseball, but a thin starting rotation.
The 24-year-old Early has posted a solid 3.44 ERA through 17 starts in his first full season in the majors. He’s been sidelined in July with elbow inflammation, but has resumed mound work. Once he’s healthy, Early immediately slots in as a top-three starter for Washington. The Nats’ rotation has been led by All-Star Foster Griffin and former prospect Cade Cavalli. After that duo, it’s been cobbling together innings between Zack Littell, Miles Mikolas, and Andrew Alvarez, often as bulk relievers behind openers.
One of the top pitching prospects in Boston’s system, Early burst on the scene with an 11-strikeout game in his big-league debut last September. He permitted just five earned runs over his first four outings. Early struggled in his lone postseason appearance, but the strong close to the regular season was enough to earn him a rotation spot this year.
Early’s strikeout numbers have ticked down closer to a league-average level. His walk rate has risen to where it was during his time in the minors. The run prevention has remained solid, but a 4.04 SIERA and a 4.14 xFIP might be a more accurate representation of his skills this season. Still, he’s a major influx of talent for a Nationals organization in need of upside arms. Early has five years of team control remaining beyond this season.
Boston will part with Early to add the 25-year-old Mead. The former top prospect was unable to stick with the Rays. He was bumped off the White Sox roster early in the year and came to the Nationals via a minor trade. The move has proven to be one of the most prudent decisions of new president of operations Paul Toboni’s tenure. Mead has an excellent 135 wRC+ in 322 plate appearances as Washington’s primary third baseman. After hitting five home runs in his first 152 big-league games, Mead has already gone deep 17 times this season. He has four years of team control remaining after this year.
The new regime in D.C. has made several key adjustments with Mead. He’s chasing less, whiffing less, and taking more pitches in the strike zone. The refined approach has led to a sub-20% strikeout rate and a healthy 11.5% walk rate. Mead’s also turned the improved swing decisions into more significant contact. After three years with a subpar hard-hit rate, he’s raised that number to 42.5% this year. He’s more than doubled his barrel rate with the Nats.
Mead spent time on the right side of the infield early in the season, but has been the full-time third baseman since Brady House was demoted. The results have been underwhelming, but not untenable, on defense. Mead has posted -2 Defensive Runs Saved and -4 Outs Above Average at the hot corner. His production has been similarly lackluster at first and second base.
Speaking of House, he’ll be recalled to take Mead’s spot, reports Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic. The prospect delivered mediocre results at the plate and struggled in the field before getting sent down. House has heated up in the minors lately. He has a .948 OPS with a dozen extra-base hits in 19 games this month. House will likely step back into near-everyday work at third base, with Jorbit Vivas occasionally chipping in.
On the Boston side, the rotation hasn’t missed a beat since Early and Ranger Suarez went down. Jake Bennett has emerged as a sturdy option. Patrick Sandoval has provided decent production since coming off the 60-day IL. Suarez is expected to rejoin the team on Sunday. Even with Garrett Crochet sidelined, the Red Sox have the depth to deal a promising arm like Early for a boost to the lineup.
Photo courtesy of David Butler II and Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images
