The Boston Red Sox have traded left-handed starter Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. In exchange, the Red Sox will acquire infielder Curtis Mead.
Report: Red Sox Trade Connelly Early to Nationals
Early, 24, is in the middle of his first full season after making his major league debut toward the end of last season. He got his first taste of the big league pressure cooker in the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees. Starting the third and deciding game, Early pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up three runs but keeping Boston in it. However, he was outdueled by fellow newcomer Cam Schlittler, who pitched eight innings of shutout ball while striking out 12.
Since making the Opening Day roster out of spring training, Early, when healthy, has been a steady (though not standout) part of Boston’s rotation. In 17 starts, he has a 7-5 record with a 3.44 ERA, a 1.255 WHIP, and 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings. However, elbow inflammation has sidelined Early for close to a month, with the team placing him on the 15-day injured list on July 1.
BREAKING: The Boston Red Sox are trading left-hander Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 26, 2026
Mead to Beantown
As for the 25-year-old Mead, the Red Sox will be his fourth different major league club in the last two seasons. After debuting with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox at last year’s deadline. The South Siders then traded Mead to the Nats at the start of this season. In 2026, Mead has a slash line of .254/.352/.500 with 17 home runs and 48 RBI in 87 games. He is a versatile infielder, seeing time at first, second, and third base in his career. This season, he has mostly split time between first (47 games) and third (34 games).
The Last Word
This trade comes as a mild surprise, as Early and fellow rookie left-hander Payton Tolle both appeared on their way to becoming key cogs in the Red Sox rotation for a long time. While Mead has shown some pop at the plate this year, it stood to reason that if the Red Sox dealt Early at all, it would be for either a higher-profile player or as part of a package deal.
As it stands, though, Early now becomes yet another young gun on an exciting Nationals team. He would be the youngest current member of their rotation, which has been spread thin this year. Joining a team in the ascendancy should give him plenty of runway to hone his pitching talent. Meanwhile, Mead will probably play third base in Boston, with Caleb Durbin‘s possible move to second base making that the most sensible fit. The Red Sox have been red hot in July, and adding a bat that has broken out this season should help them keep pace in the AL East.
Main Photo Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
