We're breaking down every notable deal leading into the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
July 25
Red Sox, Nationals swap intriguing young players
What it means for Red Sox: Craig Breslow has taken the first big swing before the deadline. Boston was in desperate need of offense - especially right-handed power - and Mead is a strong addition to that end. The 25-year-old former top prospect had struggled to make much of an impact at the major-league level before significantly breaking out this season, slashing .254/.352/.500 with 17 home runs over 87 games. His .852 OPS and 134 wRC+ would rank second on the Red Sox this season behind only Willson Contreras.
One look at Mead's Baseball Savant page and it's not hard to see why Breslow is sold on the breakout. Mead ranks in the 85th percentile in xwOBA - measuring skill based on exit velocity, launch angle, and sprint speed - while his 48.6 pull% makes him an excellent fit for Fenway Park. Where Mead fits defensively will be in question. He's appeared at first, second, and third base this season, but grades as a poor defender. The Red Sox have strong defenders at the corners, so it's possible he's used at designed hitter or maybe eventually moved to left field. Mead isn't arbitration eligible until the 2028 season, though he is out of minor-league options.
Moving Early represents a sizeable gamble for Breslow, but the organization has done an excellent job building its pitching pipeline in recent years, and the front office likely felt more comfortable moving off the left-hander with the emergence of Jake Bennett - also acquired from the Nationals - this season. Mead represents a solid start, but the Red Sox still need to add another impact offensive player before Aug. 3.
What it means for Nationals: This is exactly how teams accelerate their rebuilds and become sustainable winners. Paul Toboni acquired Mead from the White Sox in March after he was designated for assignment, and has now flipped him for a promising young starting pitcher with five additional years under control. The Nationals have really struggled to develop pitching - three of their five current starters are on expiring deals - so adding a young arm that's already in the majors is exactly what the club needed.
Early, 24, enjoyed immediate success after debuting last season, posting a 2.33 ERA and 13.5 K/9 across four starts. He's pitched well this year, allowing two or fewer runs in 12 of his 17 starts, though walks (3.3 B/9), and home runs (1.5 HR/9) have been an issue. He's also on the IL with elbow inflammation but is slated to return sometime next month. Early's 4.61 FIP compared to 3.44 ERA signals he's benefited from some luck and Boston's elite defense. It might be optimistic to label Early as a future ace, but he projects to at least be a rotation piece moving forward, and his timeline aligns well with James Wood as core building blocks.
Washington enters play Sunday sitting two games out of a playoff spot. Toboni should continue to build out the roster with a long-term view in mind, rather than try to chase a postseason berth this season. With Mead, he was able to deal from a position of strength to hopefully add a long-term arm in the rotation. The real question now is whether or not he'll trade star shortstop CJ Abrams.
