Red Sox adding Curtis Mead from Nationals in trade for Connelly Early as deadline domino falls

Red Sox adding Curtis Mead from the Nationals underscores Boston’s push to strengthen its infield before the trade deadline and respond to a competitive AL East. Boston acquired 25-year-old third baseman Curtis Mead from Washington on Saturday night in exchange for Connelly Early, a 24-year-old starter with 21 MLB starts. The deal lands as the Nationals, 53-52 and one game above .500, sit two games behind the Diamondbacks for the NL wild-card spot. Early is on the injured list with left elbow inflammation and has a 3.44 ERA over his first 17 starts, last pitching June 30. Mead, who began with the Rays and spent late 2025 with the White Sox, is hitting .856 OPS with 17 homers and 48 RBIs. His arrival could shift Caleb Durbin to second base. Boston, back in playoff contention after firing Alex Cora a month in, held the AL’s second wild-card spot after a Blue Jays loss Saturday.