Red Sox Acquire Curtis Mead for Connelly Early

[a700hitter]

Red Sox trading LHP Early to Nats for INF Mead (sources) Per MLB

[a700hitter]

I like Early.  I think he has a good future.  Where will Mead fit?  Isn’t he primarily a third baseman?

[a700hitter]

Per MLB:

The Red Sox and Nationals finalized a trade on Saturday night, just over a week before the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline. Boston sent left-handed starter Connelly Early to the Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead.

Early, who debuted last year but is still a rookie, has posted a 3.44 ERA and 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings across 17 starts this year.

TRADE DETAILS
Red Sox to receive: INF Curtis Mead
Nationals to receive: LHP Connelly Early

Early has been on the injured list with left elbow inflammation since July 1, although he is expected to return in August. The lefty threw one inning in the bullpen on Friday, and his next step before a rehab assignment was expected to be a two-inning 'pen session.

This is the third trade involving Mead, who was once dealt straight up to the Rays for current Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez. The 25-year-old native of Adelaide, Australia, has played third base, first and second this season, slashing .254/.352/.500 in 87 games.

Per Baseball Savant, Mead's xwOBA of .359 entering play on Saturday ranked in the 85th percentile of all big league hitters.

[UtahSox]

Mead is BAD 3rd baseman.. -8.1  I’m not sure you can move Durbin off 3rd for him? I’m more interested and think he might be an everyday DH/ 1b if WC needs a day. Only 25 yrs old had a breakout year.. clearly Red Sox think he has tapped into something… who loses spot in lineup? Seigler, Yoshida? 

[UtahSox]

 

[UtahSox]

TM likes the trade. I hope he turns into Brent Rooker for us. 

[vegasbob]

Apparently he may be capable if playing 2B also.  DH is most likely 

I believe this is the first step in a multipositional transition. Breslow will be revealing the next steps over the next week 

 

[vegasbob]

I don't mind Early's departure.  He is a breaking ball pitcher with a sensitive elbow. I think time will show this as a good move.

Mead is a weak fielder because he's an Aussie

[moonslav59]

Wow!

we’ve mentioned trading Early, but this guy was barely discussed.

my initial thoughts are positive, but I need to sleep on this one.

[UtahSox]

The more data I see the more excited I get.