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The Trade
The Boston Red Sox traded a young pitcher named Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals. In return, the Red Sox got an infielder named Curtis Mead. This is Nationals GM Paul Toboni's first trade this season.
Both teams needed different things. The Nationals needed more good pitchers. The Red Sox needed a strong hitter. So this trade helps both sides.
Why Curtis Mead Was Available
Earlier this year, the Chicago White Sox let Mead go, and the Nationals picked him up in a small trade. At the time, nobody expected much from him. But the Nationals' coaches helped him become a much better hitter — he's been hitting well, showing good power, patience at the plate, and solid contact skills. Because he improved so much, other teams wanted him, which is how this trade became possible.
Why the Nationals Wanted Connelly Early
Early is only 24 years old and has already proven he can pitch well in the major leagues. This season he's pitched about 92 innings with a solid earned run average (ERA) and lots of strikeouts. One number (his FIP) suggests he's given up too many home runs, but that seems fixable.
He throws harder than expected for his style — around 94 mph on his fastball — and mixes in several other pitches: a changeup, curveball, slider, and sweeper. He gets a lot of strikeouts and ground balls. He does much better against left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters so far.
The Injury
Right now, Early is hurt — he has elbow inflammation. It happened during a game against the Nationals, oddly enough. The good news: doctors don't think it's serious, he's already throwing again, and he should be back pitching in about a month.
What This Means for Each Team
For the Nationals: They gave up a hitter they liked a lot, but they gained a young, affordable starting pitcher who should slot into the middle of their rotation once healthy.
For the Red Sox: They gained a hitter (Mead) who likes to pull the ball, which could work well with Fenway Park's short left-field wall (the "Green Monster"). It's not yet clear what position he'll play for Boston.
A Fun Detail
Early actually grew up near Richmond, Virginia, so this trade brings him back close to home. He played college baseball at the University of Virginia after transferring from Army.
Overall, the writer of the article feels good about the trade for the Nationals — they'll miss Mead, but getting a reliable young pitcher was worth it.
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