Red Sox-Nationals trade details: Boston lands breakout 3B Curtis Mead for Connelly Early

The MLB trade deadline is still more than a week away, but the Red Sox and Nationals are each getting ahead of the curve.

Still on the fence about buying or selling, the Nationals did a bit of both Saturday night by trading breakout 3B Curtis Mead to the Red Sox for 24-year-old starter Connelly Early in a swap of young major-leaguers, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported.

Boston is hoping Mead upgrades its lineup both now and long-term after hitting 17 home runs in the first half, while Nationals president Paul Toboni knows Early well after working in the Red Sox' front office before taking the reins in Washington.

Here are the full details of Saturday's swap.

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Red Sox-Nationals trade details

It's a one-for-one deal between the Red Sox and Nationals.

Red Sox receive:

• 3B Curtis Mead

Nationals receive:

• SP Connelly Early

The Red Sox, comfortable with up-and-coming arms Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett, deal from their pitching depth and add a former top prospect who has shed the "bust" label this season. Mead could step in at third base for the Red Sox and push Caleb Durbin to second as Boston chases a postseason berth on the heels of its 15-game win streak.

The Nationals, who sit above .500 but still face a daunting path to the postseason, desperately need pitching and land a controllable starter in the 24-year-old Early. While he's currently on the injured list with elbow inflammation, Early will be able to step right into Washington's rotation once healthy.

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Curtis Mead stats 2026

Mead has enjoyed a breakout season after struggling to break through with the Rays and White Sox, hitting .256 with 17 home runs and an .856 OPS after taking over as the Nationals' full-time third baseman. Mead is under team control all the way through 2030.

Connelly Early stats 2026

Early has an impressive 3.44 ERA through 17 starts as a rookie, but an elevated 4.61 FIP and his placement on the IL with elbow inflammation are both potential red flags. 

Nationals president Paul Toboni was hired from the Red Sox' front office and already made a deal with Boston once when he sent pitching prospect Jake Bennett to his former team. It's Bennett's emergence that likely made the Red Sox comfortable dealing Early, and Early is now someone the Nationals will be counting on as a long-term piece of their rotation.