Add The New York Post on Google The Red Sox, who surged up the standings and are back in playoff contention three months after firing Alex Cora, added to their infield ahead of the trade deadline.
Boston acquired third baseman Curtis Mead from the Nationals in exchange for Connelly Early, a 24-year-old with just 21 MLB starts on his ledger, on Saturday night, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed — parting with a talented young arm to stock up for an American League East race that also includes the Yankees and the Rays.
The Nationals ended Saturday night one game over .500 (53-52) and just two games back of the Diamondbacks for the final wild-card spot in the National League, and the addition of Early — who’s currently injured and recovering from left elbow inflammation — gives them a young arm in their rotation, too.
Curtis Mead runs the bases during the Nationals’ blowout win over the A’s on July 17, 2026. Getty Images Mead, 25, started his career with the Rays before spending the end of the 2025 campaign with the White Sox, and this season, he has collected an .856 OPS — on track to serve as the best of his career — and 17 home runs, along with 48 RBIs.
His addition and ability to play third base could force Caleb Durbin to shift to second base, something he acknowledged that he’s willing to do, according to the Boston Globe.
Early collected a 3.44 ERA across his first 17 starts this season, though he hasn’t pitched since June 30 while dealing with elbow inflammation.
The Nationals planned to recall Brady House from Triple-A Rochester to take Mead’s spot, according to The Athletic.
Connelly Early is pictured during his June 30 start for the Red Sox. Getty Images Boston, which fired Cora one month into the season, revived its trajectory for the 2026 campaign with a 15-game winning streak, and the Red Sox — after a 6-0 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday — possessed the second wild-card spot in the AL and sat six games behind the Yankees.
And in the race for the American League crown, it’ll be on the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman to respond.
They have needs to address — from catcher to perhaps another bullpen arm — and are in search of a jolt to an offense that has struggled without Aaron Judge and just lost outfielder Cody Bellinger to a hamstring injury Saturday, too.
