Nationals Trade Mead for Pitching Future | Washington Nationals News

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The Nationals just made a pretty significant move, sending infielder Curtis Mead over to the Red Sox. This happened early Sunday morning, and it sounds like it wasn't something they were actively pushing for, but they got a good offer. Mead was hitting pretty well for them this season, with 17 homers and 48 RBIs in 87 games. In return, they got left-handed pitcher Connelly Early. Now, Early is currently on the injured list with some elbow inflammation, but he's got a solid track record, going 7-5 with a stubble U.
3.44 ERA in 17 starts. The good news is, he's under contract through 2031, so he's a long-term piece. President of Baseball Operations Paul Taboni said parting with Mead was tough, calling him a player who could be consistent for years. But the chance to acquire young starting pitching, which is super hard to find these days, made the deal worth it. They really believe this move helps them compete now.
To fill Mead's spot, the Nationals called up third baseman Brady House from AAA. House was a first-round pick back in 2021 and has shown some promise, especially against left-handed pitching. He's been working on his confidence and his game, and now he gets another shot at the big league level. The team is still in the hunt for a playoff spot, just two games out of the wild card. Taboni feels like Early will be a big help to their pitching staff once he's healthy, which they expect to be next month. It's a balancing act, trying to win now while also building for the future, and they think this trade helps them do both.