Red Sox Make Bold Move, Trade Connelly Early for Infielder Curtis Mead

Chad Tracy explains why he’s open to using Bello as both a starter and a bulk reliever

The Red Sox have made their first big move of the summer.

Boston traded left-handed pitcher Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals on Saturday night, receiving infielder Curtis Mead in return.

ESPN's Jeff Passan broke the news.

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BREAKING: The Boston Red Sox are trading left-hander Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead, sources tell ESPN.

Early has been on the injured list since July 1 due to elbow inflammation but is nearing a return to the mound. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut late last season with the Red Sox, and he ended up starting Game 3 of the Wild Card Series in Yankee Stadium.

Mead, 25, has primarily played at third base but has also played at second and first base.

The right-handed hitter is batting .256 with an .856 OPS this season, with 17 doubles and 17 home runs. In his career with the Rays, White Sox and Nationals, he's a .245 hitter with a .710 OPS.

A native of Australia, Mead first entered professional baseball in the Phillies organization but was traded to the Rays for Cristopher Sanchez in 2019. The Rays traded Mead to the White Sox last year ahead of the deadline. The White Sox, though, designated Mead for assignment in March, eventually working out a trade that sent him to the Nationals.

Curtis Mead is on pace for:.257 / 28 HR / 78 RBI / 8 SBHe only had 5 HR in his previous 152 games played before this season.pic.twitter.com/c65xlreUpF

The deal involves two controllable assets, as Early will be under team control until 2032 and Mead won't reach free agency until 2031.

The deal for Craig Breslow was seemingly one made with a hope to bolster the offense, while giving up a piece of what has been an excellent and deep pitching staff. The rapid rise of rookie Jake Bennett (6-3, 2.58 ERA) along with the presence of fellow lefties Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle and injured ace Garrett Crochet likely made the front office comfortable in dealing away Early.

The move came hours after the Red Sox mustered just one hit against Dylan Cease in a loss at Fenway Park, Boston's fifth time being shut out this season. With Caleb Durbin turning his season around, Mead's most obvious fit with Boston may be at second base, which has been a revolving door for the Red Sox this season. Marcelo Mayer started 39 games at second before moving to shortstop and subsequently hitting the IL. Veteran Isian Kiner-Filefa is also on the IL. Anthony Seigler has filled in admirably over the past month, but the trade signals the front office's lack of belief that the 27-year-old with limited MLB experience can sustain his success.

All of Boston's second basemen have combined for a .640 OPS this season, the fifth-worst mark in the majors.

The move certainly comes with risk, as Early has shown plenty of promise in his 21 big league appearances. Since debuting last September, Early has gone 8-7 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.225 WHIP.

Despite Saturday's loss, the Red Sox remained in the second wild card spot by the end of the day, a half-game up on the Guardians, who have a two-game cushion over the Twins in the third spot. Breslow is expected to continue to work to bolster the offense with a little more than a week remaining before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.