Some basic notes on the Nationals trading Curtis Mead for Connelly Early: ⚾️ Makes a lot of sense for a team that has an elite offense and poor pitching to trade a bat for an arm. WSH’s system, and especially their close-to-ready prospects, are also bat heavy. ⚾️ Connelly Early was one of Toboni’s guys in the BOS system. He drafted him in the 5th RD and the Sox developed him into a really nice arm. Great developmental win for the Sox. He added velo and sharpened his stuff. Toboni knows the player inside and out. ⚾️ In fact, he’s such a Toboni guy that I’ve been floating Early as a trade candidate for weeks (but in a Luis Garcia package with a prospect). Mead for Early is a surprising 1-for-1 because Mead was so lowly regarded as recently as April but clearly BOS is very high on his breakout being sustainable. ⚾️ Early is from Midlothian, Va. and went to UVA. He’s only 24 and he’s had lots of MLB success. For his career (21 starts and 111 innings) he’s posted a 3.24 ERA with 10 Ks per 9. ⚾️ Early throws a 4-seam FB (averages 94 MPH), 2-seam FB (92), a change-up 83), a curve ball (80), a slider (87), and a sweeper (82). He’s had the most success this season with his FB and SL. ⚾️ Early is currently on the IL. As long as his injury doesn’t end up getting worse and leading to a lengthy recovery, it’s mostly irrelevant to the deal. There is always risk with pitchers and especially pitchers on the shelf. ⚾️ While it’s very possible Early comes back healthy and pitches in the rotation this year, this trade is more about the future. This deal isn’t really about 2026. The Nats lack starting pitching talent at the MLB level and in the high minors. ⚾️ Early is under control for five more seasons after this year. He won’t be a FA until 2032 which is massive for WSH in building a rotation for the future. He and Cavalli will be mainstays. WSH just found a LHP to anchor 20% of their rotation for years to come. ⚾️ Mead is having a monster season. His play has been a major reason for WSH having the best offense in the sport. But if you’re WSH, how can you not flip him for a long term rotation-lock (and possible mid-rotation starter) months after acquiring him for a mid-level minor leaguer. ⚾️ Oh, and former first rounder Brady House has been hitting .300 in AAA and needs to play in the big leagues again. He will get run at 3B with Mead gone. The Nats also have RHH CIF Yohandy Morales waiting for a shot. He had been blocked at AAA, partially because of Mead. ⚾️ One more on Mead — he’s just 25 and he is under team control for 4 kore years. If this season is a real indicator of what he is, he will be a star in Boston. His game and swing are tailor made for Fenway Park. Overall I think giving up Mead is somewhat painful if this is who he’s going to be. That said he was a house money addition and the Nats kind of stumbled into his awesome season. They are potentially flipping him at PEAK value. I don’t think they could pass up a shot to land Early as pitching-starved as they are. And to have gotten Mead for what they did and traded him for Early? They flipped a house for crazy profit.