Red Sox and Nationals execute deadline trade for Mead and Early
The swap, completed late on Saturday, 26 July 2026, sees both clubs bolster their rosters as they compete for wild-card positions in their respective leagues.
The Boston Red Sox have acquired infielder Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals in exchange for left-handed pitcher Connelly Early. The transaction was reported late on Saturday, 26 July 2026, shortly before the MLB trade deadline officially commenced, as confirmed by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Mead, a 25-year-old Australian, enters the Red Sox lineup with a .254 batting average, 17 home runs, and 48 RBIs this season. He was originally acquired by the Nationals in March after being designated for assignment by the Chicago White Sox, and has primarily featured at corner infield positions with some time at second base.
The move provides Boston with a right-handed bat at Fenway Park as the team seeks to offset offensive deficiencies caused by injuries to key hitters Trevor Story and Roman Anthony. Boston recently ended a 15-game winning streak and, following a loss to Toronto on Saturday, occupies the second wild-card spot in the American League with a 53-50 record.
In return, the Nationals receive Early, a 24-year-old pitcher who holds a 7-5 record with a 3.44 ERA across 17 starts. Early is currently on the injured list due to elbow problems. His last appearance occurred on 30 June against Washington, where he threw four scoreless innings before exiting the game.
Washington, despite being the highest-scoring team in baseball this season, has struggled with pitching and sits two games out of a postseason berth. The trade deadline stretch run has begun, with both clubs making strategic moves to secure their playoff positions.
