Red Sox Acquire Curtis Mead for Connelly Early

[FredLynn]

I thought we should be sellers but now that the die is cast and Breslow has decided to go for it he can’t stop with this trade. He’s got to go all in. Mead won’t be replacing Durbin . I suspect he’ll slot in at DH or 2B. The catcher problem has to be aggressively fixed. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

29 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

If you are down on the trade, just know that Mead thinks Sweet Caroline is overplayed. 

Overplayed? I like this guy already.

[notin]

1 minute ago, Hugh2 said:

Who is the odd man out? 

Seigler? Most likely…

[notin]

19 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

I thought we should be sellers but now that the die is cast and Breslow has decided to go for it he can’t stop with this trade. He’s got to go all in. Mead won’t be replacing Durbin . I suspect he’ll slot in at DH or 2B. The catcher problem has to be aggressively fixed. 

The catcher’s most important job is defense, and the staff is used to Narvaez and Wong.

LF is more important…

[southpaw777]

3 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

They will could (they should) move him to 2B.  His defense is much better than and Durbin has been great at 3b

Im all in on that. He’s a better 2b than 3b without a doubt. 
I doubt Tracy moves Durbin 

[Hugh2]

Mixed emotions of this one because I was a fan of Early, but it seems like a fair trade.  We traded from a position of strength to fill in a big hole.  And the guy came with team control.  
 

I like the trade much better if he moves to 2B.  He’s played there before and the scouting on him is that is a more natural position.

I earlier advocated a SS with the thought in my mind they may play 2B, because what we really needed was another bat in the infield. This was my #1 need and it looks like the Sox agree.

we kind of have to pick up another starter now, but Bennett and Tolle were clearly better than Early and healthy.  
 

good trade. 
more please.

[Hugh2]

Just now, southpaw777 said:

Im all in on that. He’s a better 2b than 3b without a doubt. 
I doubt Tracy moves Durbin 

Apparently Durbin was quoted saying he would be happy to move to 2B if the Sox acquired a 3B.  
would is not Will and was said before this specific trade. So maybe they put Mead at 2nd? I think they will

[JBontheMonstah]

Like the bat but curious to see the direction after… is he playing 2B? I know we prioritized defense and pitching but a lot of the plays durbinator is making over there mead doesn’t make and probably makes our record worse. Durbin is getting a lot of action at 3B. 
 

still feel like we need a LHB or a RHB that can hit RHP, a SP now that early is gone, and a RP. 
 

loved early’s attitude but strong believer there was a lot of luck on early’s side with the numbers. 

[FredLynn]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

The catcher’s most important job is defenseless, and the staff is used to Narvaez and Wong.

LF is more important…

Don’t worry about LF. Anthony will be back any day now.

Yes, LF is also a problem but if we could swap out Narvaez for Langoliers the team would be much better off. Not sure what it would take to make that happen 

[notin]

9 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Don’t worry about LF. Anthony will be back any day now.

Yes, LF is also a problem but if we could swap out Narvaez for Langoliers the team would be much better off. Not sure what it would take to make that happen 

If Anthony was back “any day now”, great.  
 

If the Sox swapped out Narvaez for Langeliers (whose availability is in question), the offense would be better off.  But would the pitching really be?  And the defense?

Bat Narvaez 9th and get an upgrade for LF/DH.  

[FredLynn]

7 minutes ago, notin said:

If Anthony was back “any day now”, great.  
 

If the Sox swapped out Narvaez for Langeliers (whose availability is in question), the offense would be better off.  But would the pitching really be?  And the defense?

Bat Narvaez 9th and get an upgrade for LF/DH.  

I was joking about Anthony. I doubt we will see him anytime soon. Not sure how good a defender Langoliers is but I know he can hit the baseball-and for a team that is close to last in runs scored that needs to be taken into account. 

[notin]

37 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

They will could (they should) move him to 2B.  His defense is much better than and Durbin has been great at 3b

From MLBTR:

”Mead likely slots in at third base for the Red Sox, with the incumbent Caleb Durbin separately telling Alex Speier of the Boston Globe that he is willing to move to second base.”

 

Source:  https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/07/the-opener-diaz-cease-perez.html

[moonslav59]

Some more observations early on in my formulating an opinion on this deal:

1. We can no longer say Brez can't be bold in midseason dealing.

2. This is no Clarke, Wikelman, Aita, Fajardo type trade. It's not even a Harrison or Priester type trade.

3. Early is the most proven good AND young player Brez has traded. (Sale & Verdugo were way more experienced: Fitts was not as good. Teel & Monty had zero experience.)

4. We now have a bit of a logjam that hints at another near future trade.

[southpaw777]

34 minutes ago, FredLynn said:

Don’t worry about LF. Anthony will be back any day now.

Yes, LF is also a problem but if we could swap out Narvaez for Langoliers the team would be much better off. Not sure what it would take to make that happen 

 

13 minutes ago, notin said:

From MLBTR:

”Mead likely slots in at third base for the Red Sox, with the incumbent Caleb Durbin separately telling Alex Speier of the Boston Globe that he is willing to move to second base.”

 

Source:  https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/07/the-opener-diaz-cease-perez.html

If they put a guy with better numbers playing 2b, at 3b, for a guy who’s a vacuum at 3b they are reta**d

[notin]

6 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

 

If they put a guy with better numbers playing 2b, at 3b, for a guy who’s a vacuum at 3b they are reta**d

Mead has only 48 career games at 2b and only 110 games at 3b.  His defensive metrics are not real useful.  In the minors, Mead played much more 3b than 2b.

Personally, I trust Durbin more at 2b than I trust Mead.  Durbin did play more 2b in the minors than 3b.  In fact, it’s possible the only reason Durbin ever played third in MLB is the existence of Brice Turang…

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

 

If they put a guy with better numbers playing 2b, at 3b, for a guy who’s a vacuum at 3b they are reta**d

While I agree on keeping Durbin at 3B for Mead, my guess is Durbin would be a much needed Vacuum at 2B, too.

I see us slotting Mead at 2B or DH with some time at 1B, as we rest Contreras some by DH'ing him here and there. (Willson's suspension did give him a nice break recently.)

I think another significant trade involving one or two of our infielders or infield prospects is in the works- perhaps even to add a SS or 2Bman. If we trade Yoshida, who has improved his value over the last 4-5 weeks, then we know Mead's 2026 position will likely be  mostly DH.

I really like what I'm reading about Mead, especially for 2026, since I was really doubting how much (more) Early could give us down the stretch. His injury might have meant zero. From what I hear, we traded 5 years of Early for 4 years of Mead. We needed offense and got it. Pitching and pitching depth was our strong area and we used it to further balance the roster. It's scary because we have 4 SP'ers on the 60 IL, Suarez still out, others on IP limits and Gray being a free agent-to be.

You gotta give to get, and I'm liking this trade the more I read about it.

[notin]

19 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Some more observations early on in my formulating an opinion on this deal:

1. We can no longer say Brez can't be bold in midseason dealing.

2. This is no Clarke, Wikelman, Aita, Fajardo type trade. It's not even a Harrison or Priester type trade.

3. Early is the most proven good AND young player Brez has traded. (Sale & Verdugo were way more experienced: Fitts was not as good. Teel & Monty had zero experience.)

4. We now have a bit of a logjam that hints at another near future trade.

What logjam?

[a700hitter]

I like all three lefties — Early, Tolle and Bennett.  All are very impressive.   Early reminds me of John Tudor.  I regretted trading him and Bobby Ojeda too.  I have a feeling that we will regret trading Early.  I don’t know much about Mead.   He is young with a good pedigree.   Hopefully, it will work out.

[southpaw777]

4 minutes ago, notin said:

Mead has only 48 career games at 2b and only 110 games at 3b.  His defensive metrics are not real useful.  In the minors, Mead played much more 3b than 2b.

Personally, I trust Durbin more at 2b than I trust Mead.  Durbin did play more 2b in the minors than 3b.  In fact, it’s possible the only reason Durbin ever played third in MLB is the existence of Brice Turang…

I dunno. Even in SSS, which is all we got,  Mead isn’t a good 3b. Durbin is an arguably a GG there. Lesser risk playing Mead at 2b if you ask me. Durbin is locked in. Why mess with that for a lesser defender? We got other guys to play 2b if he blows there too. All I’m saying is Don’t Move Durbin. We will be worse off for it.

[southpaw777]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

While I agree on keeping Durbin at 3B for Mead, my guess is Durbin would be a much needed Vacuum at 2B, too.

I see us slotting Mead at 2B or DH with some time at 1B, as we rest Contreras some by DH'ing him here and there. (Willson's suspension did give him a nice break recently.)

I think another significant trade involving one or two of our infielders or infield prospects is in the works- perhaps even to add a SS or 2Bman. If we trade Yoshida, who has improved his value over the last 4-5 weeks, then we know Mead's 2026 position will likely be  mostly DH.

I really like what I'm reading about Mead, especially for 2026, since I was really doubting how much (more) Early could give us down the stretch. His injury might have meant zero. From what I hear, we traded 5 years of Early for 4 years of Mead. We needed offense and got it. Pitching and pitching depth was our strong area and we used it to further balance the roster. It's scary because we have 4 SP'ers on the 60 IL, Suarez still out, others on IP limits and Gray being a free agent-to be.

You gotta give to get, and I'm liking this trade the more I read about it.

I’d be surprised if Breslow doesn’t go get a starter

[notin]

1 minute ago, moonslav59 said:

While I agree on keeping Durbin at 3B for Mead, my guess is Durbin would be a much needed Vacuum at 2B, too.

I see us slotting Mead at 2B or DH with some time at 1B, as we rest Contreras some by DH'ing him here and there. (Willson's suspension did give him a nice break recently.)

I think another significant trade involving one or two of our infielders or infield prospects is in the works- perhaps even to add a SS or 2Bman. If we trade Yoshida, who has improved his value over the last 4-5 weeks, then we know Mead's 2026 position will likely be  mostly DH.

I really like what I'm reading about Mead, especially for 2026, since I was really doubting how much (more) Early could give us down the stretch. His injury might have meant zero. From what I hear, we traded 5 years of Early for 4 years of Mead. We needed offense and got it. Pitching and pitching depth was our strong area and we used it to further balance the roster. It's scary because we have 4 SP'ers on the 60 IL, Suarez still out, others on IP limits and Gray being a free agent-to be.

You gotta give to get, and I'm liking this trade the more I read about it.

Yoshida’s value is tied to him being a 30+ year old light-hitting singles machine with no defensive position and some $24mill in outstanding salary commitments.  Doubtful he is adding value or getting traded.  And I’m one of his biggest supporters.

I think the Sox infield is likely:

1b: Contreras

2b: Durbin

3b: Mead

SS: Cheng/Monasterio until Story returns next month…

 

 

[FredLynn]

21 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

 

If they put a guy with better numbers playing 2b, at 3b, for a guy who’s a vacuum at 3b they are reta**d

I agree. Anything hit to Durbin is an out. He is a welcome change at 3B. I wouldn’t move him. 

[notin]

9 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

I dunno. Even in SSS, which is all we got,  Mead isn’t a good 3b. Durbin is an arguably a GG there. Lesser risk playing Mead at 2b if you ask me. Durbin is locked in. Why mess with that for a lesser defender? We got other guys to play 2b if he blows there too. All I’m saying is Don’t Move Durbin. We will be worse off for it.

I can understand that, but I doubt it’s the plan.  Unless the Sox do something bizarre like realize back in 2018-19 season in the Australian Baseball League, a 17yo Curtis Mead spent two full innings in left field for the Adelaide Bite, successfully registering a put out on his only chance, and this bit of history is enough to qualify Mead to replace Duran and start in left field.

But I think he takes 3b for now…

[Donnie Sadler was short]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

Who is the odd man out? 

Romy

[notin]

8 minutes ago, southpaw777 said:

I’d be surprised if Breslow doesn’t go get a starter

A starter.  Also we sort of just replaced our leadoff hitter…

[notin]

2 minutes ago, Donnie Sadler was short said:

Romy

Think the Sox gave up a 24yo successful starting pitcher with 5 seasons left until free agency for a weak side platoon option at DH?

If so, Breslow should be fired, re-hired, and then fired again…

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, Donnie Sadler was short said:

Romy

Romy has only started 2B three times, this year. He still looks like Yoshida's DH platoon, to me.

Now, if the idea is to DH Mead, then Romy might be a 2B platoon guy.

[JBontheMonstah]

3 minutes ago, notin said:

I can understand that, but I doubt it’s the plan.  Unless the Sox do something bizarre like realize back in 2018-19 season in the Australian Baseball League, a 17yo Curtis Mead spent two full innings in left field for the Adelaide Bite, successfully registering a put out on his only chance, and this bit of history is enough to qualify Mead to replace Duran and start in left field.

But I think he takes 3b for now…

I honestly thought about this in the morning I mean we had manny in LF meads got to be a hair better than manny out there haha. Mead replacing Durans bat makes the lineup scarier. Love duran’s vibes when he’s on but god he’s been bad. 

[moonslav59]

1. SP (Maybe someone like Lugo)

2. Catcher (Maybe someone like Jeffers- a rental or Langeliers/Goodman for the long haul and big bat addition.)

3. SS (Maybe someone like Neto, Abrams or even Pena. Adames might be the least costly impact SS we could obtain.) I don't think we add a SS, unless it's Story or Arias.

[JBontheMonstah]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

1. SP (Maybe someone like Lugo)

2. Catcher (Maybe someone like Jeffers- a rental or Langeliers/Goodman for the long haul and big bat addition.)

3. SS (Maybe someone like Neto, Abrams or even Pena. Adames might be the least costly impact SS we could obtain.) I don't think we add a SS, unless it's Story or Arias.

Umm they just announced Langeliers has a meniscus tear.