Nats bolster rotation for the future, acquire LHP Early for INF Mead

The first July trade chip has fallen in the Paul Toboni era with the Nationals.

On late Saturday night, the Nats acquired rookie left-hander Connelly Early from the Red Sox in exchange for third baseman Curtis Mead.

Early, 24, is having a standout first full season in the Majors. Following a dominant September callup last year, Early earned a spot in Boston’s starting rotation. He is 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 17 starts across 91 2/3 innings.

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

Early is currently rehabbing from left elbow inflammation, which he sustained in the series against the Nationals earlier this month. He threw a one-inning bullpen on Friday, and he was slated for a two-inning bullpen in the middle of this coming week. Early is expected to return in August.

First-year president of baseball operations Toboni, who came from the Red Sox, and his staff are very familiar with Early. Washington’s assistant general manager Devin Pearson served as Boston’s director of amateur scouting, and he oversaw the 2023 Draft in which the Red Sox selected Early in the fifth round out of the University of Virginia.

There has been uncertainty as to whether the Nationals will be buyers or sellers this season with a lot of that decision dictated by the status of their playoff contention leading up to the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline. They are in the running for an NL Wild Card spot at 53-52.

One area in which the Nationals can bolster their team is with starting pitching. Early gives them that -- and team control until 2032. He becomes arbitration-eligible in 2029.

The Nationals’ starting rotation has the third-highest ERA in the National League (4.50). Veterans Zack Littell and Miles Mikolas pitch behind openers out of the bullpen, and Andrew Alvarez has been starting in place of Jake Irvin while Irvin recovers from a right shoulder strain.

Their most dominant starter, All-Star left-hander Foster Griffin, is the subject of trade buzz with an expiring contract. If the Nationals retain Griffin for the remainder of the season (or even extend him), Early enhances that rotation. If the Nationals trade Griffin, they have added a long-term lefty in Early.

Mead had been a key component to the Nationals’ success this season. A former top prospect with the Rays, the Nats acquired Mead in late March from the White Sox. Manager Blake Butera had worked with Mead in Tampa Bay's system, and he saw the untapped potential. Mead committed to improving his infield defense and at the plate. He took over the starting third base role when the Nats optioned Brady House to Triple-A Rochester on May 19.

In the 16 games this month, Mead is slashing .367/.465/.650 with a 1.115 OPS. Among all third basemen, he ranks third in slugging percentage and OPS, sixth in home runs (20), seventh in on-base percentage and eighth in batting average.

Though only 25 years old, the Australian native became a leader in the Nationals’ clubhouse.

“He was really mature always from a pretty young age,” Butera said last month. “... [We] thought there was some runway for him here and just believed in his abilities, believed in who he is as a person, and thought that if we could get him here in a pretty controlled or comfortable environment that he would thrive.”

This is the second deal made by Toboni and his former organization. In December, the Nationals acquired right-hander Luis Perales from the Red Sox in exchange for southpaw Jake Bennett.