MLB Notebook: Red Sox make first move, acquire Curtis Mead, Shea Langeliers injured, trade rumors swirl around baseball

The Red Sox officially kicked off their trade deadline by acquiring infielder Curtis Mead from the Nationals in exchange for left-handed pitcher Connelly Early.

Boston entered deadline season as the hottest team in baseball and firmly in the American League Wild Card race. With the offense still in need of another impact bat, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow addressed one of the club's biggest needs by landing Mead.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Red Sox view Mead as a "right-handed bat with impact potential."

Mead has been one of the breakout hitters in the majors this season, posting an .852 OPS in 87 games with Washington. Among qualified Red Sox hitters, he would rank second only to Willson Contreras in wRC+ (134), expected weighted on-base average (.359), OPS (.852), on-base percentage (.352), slugging percentage (.500) and home runs (17).

The Red Sox also gain a controllable bat in Mead, who isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2030 season.

While Boston appears set at the corner infield spots with Contreras at first base and Caleb Durbin at third, Mead's versatility gives the club options. Second base and designated hitter have been among the lineup's least productive positions for much of the season, making them logical landing spots. Another possibility would be shifting Durbin back to second base, where he has previous experience, and installing Mead at third.

"I've played second base my whole entire life," Durbin said after Saturday's loss to Toronto. "Today, I'd probably be most comfortable playing at third base just because that's where I've taken ground balls all year, but it wouldn't take long for me to get comfortable there."

Durbin has emerged as one of the American League's better defensive third basemen, so the Red Sox may be reluctant to move him. Mead is capable of handling third base, but he owns a minus-4 Outs Above Average there this season and is generally viewed as a below-average defender with a below-average arm.

It appears, at least for now, Mead will play second base.

“I want to see Curtis play some second base,” Chad Tracy said. “Obviously, you guys know what Durbin has done at third. Durbin’s a very capable defender at other places, too, so he may get some work at other spots just to give us positional versatility in the middle of a game if something happens... But at least here in the initial stages, I’d like to see Caleb stay where he’s at, because he has been so strong there. Curtis has experience all around the infield, too.”

The trade was made possible by Boston's organizational strength on the mound. The Red Sox have developed a surplus of young major league-caliber starting pitching, allowing Breslow to deal from a position of strength while addressing one of the weakest areas of the roster.

Even during Boston's 21-4 stretch since June 25, power production has remained an issue. The Red Sox rank 29th in the majors with 98 home runs, and Contreras (22) is the only player on the roster with more than Mead's 17. Boston is also acquiring Mead while he's swinging one of the hottest bats in baseball. In 16 games this month, he's slashing .367/.465/.650 with six doubles, three home runs and nine RBI.

This is the third trade of Mead's professional career. Signed by the Phillies out of Australia in 2018, he was dealt to the Rays for current Philadelphia ace Cristopher Sánchez before making his major league debut in 2023. Tampa Bay later traded him to the White Sox, where he struggled to establish himself before Washington acquired him shortly after Opening Day. Mead has since revitalized his career, emerging as one of the National League's biggest breakout hitters.

Washington acquires five years of club control over Early, who won Boston's final rotation spot out of spring training and went 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 17 starts before landing on the injured list July 1 with left shoulder inflammation. The 24-year-old threw a bullpen session Friday and is expected to return in August.

A fifth-round pick in 2023, Early transferred from Army to Virginia before Boston helped unlock another level by adding roughly three mph to his fastball. His slider and changeup developed into legitimate major league weapons as he quickly climbed through the organization, earning a postseason start in 2025 and cementing himself as part of one of baseball's deepest young rotations.

The trade marks the second one-for-one deal between Breslow and Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, following last offseason's swap that sent Luis Perales to Washington for Jake Bennett.

From Washington's perspective, the Nationals sold high on Mead to acquire a controllable starter who projects as a mid-rotation arm. For Boston, the deal represents an early deadline investment in an offense that still needed another impact bat despite its recent surge.

Shea Langeliers Could Miss the Rest of the Year

The Red Sox's reported interest in All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers appears to be over before it ever truly began.

According to Passan, the Athletics catcher suffered a torn meniscus in his knee while running the bases and is expected to miss the remainder of the season if, as anticipated, he undergoes surgery.

Regardless of whether Langeliers opts for surgery, the injury is expected to end any trade discussions surrounding one of baseball's top all-around catchers. While the Athletics had shown little interest in moving the 28-year-old, several clubs were hoping the team's stance might soften before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Earlier this week, the Red Sox were linked to Langeliers, with reports indicating Boston was "salivating" over the possibility of acquiring the standout catcher.

Langeliers has been one of the game's premier catchers this season, slashing .263/.332/.497 with 23 home runs, 51 RBIs and an .829 OPS in 93 games. Defensively, he has continued to excel behind the plate, throwing out 11 of 35 attempted basestealers while providing plus defense.

Acquired from the Braves in the Matt Olson trade before the 2022 season, Langeliers has developed into one of the game's best power-hitting catchers. Since becoming Oakland's primary catcher in 2023, only Cal Raleigh has hit more home runs among catchers.

At 44-60 with the worst run differential in baseball (-122), the Athletics have endured a disappointing season, but Langeliers has remained one of the club's few bright spots. His injury is another significant blow to a roster already dealing with the season-ending loss of Brent Rooker and injuries to Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson.

With Langeliers now expected to remain with the Athletics, the Red Sox will likely have to look elsewhere if they're still hoping to adding another impact bat to go along with Mead before the trade deadline.

Trade Rumors

The trade market is beginning to take shape with just over a week until the Aug. 3 deadline, and several contenders appear ready to be more aggressive than in recent years.

Brewers Eyeing Pitching

The Brewers have checked in on two of the game's premier arms: Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and Padres closer Mason Miller.

According to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, Milwaukee officials are prepared to take a more aggressive approach at this year's deadline than in previous seasons. The Brewers have spoken with Detroit about Skubal and San Diego about Miller as they explore ways to strengthen an already postseason-caliber roster.

Rays Keeping Tabs on Skubal, Others

The Rays also remain involved in the starting pitching market, with Skubal among their reported targets. Tampa Bay has additionally been linked to Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos, Padres infielder Luis Arraez and Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers as it looks to upgrade its lineup.

Yankees focused on catching

Jeffers also continues to draw heavy interest from the Yankees.

New York owns the second-worst OPS (.531) from the catcher position in baseball, with Austin Wells, Ali Sánchez and J.C. Escarra combining to provide little offensive production. Wells has appeared in 70 games but is batting just .163 with a .524 OPS.

Jeffers has been limited to 44 games after missing two months with a fractured left hamate bone but has produced when healthy, hitting nine home runs with a .933 OPS since returning July 10. Both Jeffers and Wells are 29 years old and are scheduled to reach free agency after the season.

Mariners Willing to Deal From Rotation Depth

Seattle is searching for offense and appears willing to use its pitching depth to find it.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Mariners have informed clubs they are open to trading right-hander Emerson Hancock.

The willingness to move Hancock stems from Seattle's abundance of starting pitching. Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo are already established in the rotation, while top prospects Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan are viewed as future rotation pieces. 

Castillo has surfaced as another possible trade candidate, but moving him would be far more difficult. The 33-year-old is owed $22.75 million this season and next, with a $25 million vesting option for 2028 tied to innings pitched. He's also in the midst of the least effective season of his career, carrying a 4.85 ERA while seeing his strikeout rate decline significantly. 

Red Sox Still Exploring the Shortstop Market

Despite acquiring Mead, Boston continues to monitor the shortstop market.

The Red Sox remain interested in Angels shortstop Zach Neto and Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña. It's also fair to wonder whether Craig Breslow and Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni discussed CJ Abrams while negotiating the Mead-Early trade.

Neto, 25, is earning $4.15 million this season and remains under club control through 2029, making him one of the most attractive middle infielders potentially available.

With Trevor Story sidelined following sports hernia surgery, Boston has pieced together the position with Andruw Monasterio, Tsung-Che Cheng, Anthony Seigler and Romy González. While each has contributed, none profiles as a long-term everyday solution for a club with postseason aspirations.

Story is expected to begin a rehab assignment sometime in August, though he was batting just .206 with a .547 OPS before landing on the injured list.

Acquiring Neto would give Boston a long-term answer at shortstop while allowing flexibility elsewhere in the infield. He has 19 home runs and a .771 OPS this season while ranking sixth among qualified shortstops in wRC+ and 11th in fWAR. His emerging power has been one of the biggest developments in his game, as he has already matched his career high of 19 home runs and is on pace to surpass last year's total of 26.

Peña would also represent a significant upgrade. In 58 games this season, he's batting .315 with nine home runs, 28 RBIs and an .849 OPS while continuing to provide above-average defense, speed and power.

Casas Still Sidelined by Wrist Issue

Triston Casas' injury-plagued stretch continues.

Tracy said Saturday that the Red Sox first baseman has not resumed swinging because of a lingering wrist issue that surfaced earlier this month, creating yet another setback in his lengthy recovery.

"The wrist hiccup, he's still dealing with that," Tracy said. "So currently not swinging."

Tracy said he wasn't sure of Casas' exact diagnosis and didn't want to speculate, describing it simply as discomfort in the wrist. The issue was first disclosed publicly on July 5, and Casas has not swung a bat since.

Before the wrist problem emerged, Casas had progressed to a hitting program after recovering from the ruptured left patellar tendon that ended his 2025 season and an adductor strain suffered in April.

"Those things are better," Tracy said. "Those things kind of got better, he started swinging again and the wrist thing is what popped up after that, so he's still dealing with that."

Casas has not appeared in a game since rupturing his left patellar tendon while trying to beat out a ground ball on May 2, 2025. The Red Sox initially hoped he could return early this season, but the adductor strain and now the wrist issue have delayed his comeback, leaving his availability for the remainder of 2026 uncertain.

The injuries are the latest in a frustrating stretch for the 26-year-old, who has struggled to stay healthy despite showing middle-of-the-order potential. Casas also missed significant time with a rib injury in 2024. His best season came in 2023, when he hit 24 home runs with an .856 OPS in 132 games.

2026 Hall of Fame Class Set for Induction

Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Jones' election caps one of the most remarkable climbs in Hall of Fame voting history. The Curaçao native burst onto the national stage as a 19-year-old during the 1996 World Series, homering twice in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium. 

He went on to become one of the greatest defensive center fielders in baseball history, winning 10 Gold Gloves tied with Al Kaline for the second-most by an outfielder behind only Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente (12), while making five All-Star teams and finishing his 17-year career with 434 home runs.

Jones was elected in his ninth year on the BBWAA ballot after receiving 78.4% of the vote. His induction completes an unprecedented rise after receiving just 7.3% support in his first year on the ballot in 2018, the lowest initial percentage ever for a player eventually elected by the writers.

Beltrán earned induction in his third year on the ballot after appearing on 84.2% of submitted ballots. The nine-time All-Star finished his 20-year career with more than 400 home runs and 300 stolen bases, joining Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Andre Dawson and Alex Rodriguez as the only players in AL/NL history to accomplish the feat.

The 1999 American League Rookie of the Year also won three Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers and the 2013 Roberto Clemente Award. He was one of the greatest postseason performers of his era, highlighted by eight home runs in 12 playoff games for Houston in 2004 before winning his lone World Series championship with the Astros in his final major league season in 2017.

Kent enters Cooperstown after being selected by the 16-member Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. The 2000 National League MVP finished with 377 career home runs, including a record 351 as a second baseman. He also drove in 1,518 runs and recorded eight 100-RBI seasons, the most ever by a player at the position.

A 20th-round draft pick by Toronto in 1989, Kent blossomed after being traded to San Francisco before the 1997 season, earning three Silver Sluggers and three All-Star selections during his six seasons with the Giants before later making All-Star teams with Houston and Los Angeles.

Players on the BBWAA ballot needed to receive at least 75% of the vote for election. Sunday's induction ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. ET in Cooperstown and will air on MLB Network, with coverage beginning at 11 a.m. ET.

Around the League

- The Brewers designated right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment after just two relief appearances with the club. McCullers threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing five walks while striking out five and recording one hold.

- The Mets placed superstar outfielder Juan Soto on the injured list with a Grade 2 calf strain and expect him to miss at least three weeks. The injury is more severe than the right calf strain Soto suffered in April, when he also missed nearly three weeks.

Despite New York's disappointing season, Soto has been one of the few bright spots, batting .293 with 21 home runs in 84 games. His .947 OPS ranks second in Major League Baseball, trailing only Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.

- The Athletics signed former AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract, according to ESPN.

The 38-year-old hasn't pitched in the majors since a four-start stint with Milwaukee in 2024, when he posted a 5.40 ERA. He spent last season at Triple-A Omaha in the Royals organization, going 2-1 with a 3.53 ERA in seven starts before finishing the year in Japan with the Chiba Lotte Marines.

Keuchel hasn't appeared in a professional game since Aug. 16, 2025. Since the start of the 2021 season, the veteran left-hander owns a 6.24 ERA over 277 major league innings with five different organizations.

- The Dodgers continued bolstering their bullpen earlier this week, acquiring hard-throwing right-hander Seth Halvorsen from the Rockies in exchange for pitching prospect Nick Frasso and outfield prospect Landyn Vidourek.

Halvorsen, 26, brings an electric fastball, more than five seasons of club control and 71 innings of major league experience, though command has remained inconsistent.

Colorado received two intriguing prospects in return. Frasso, 27, was once ranked among baseball's Top 100 prospects before injuries stalled his ascent and has yet to make his major league debut. Vidourek, a 22-year-old former fourth-round pick, possesses above-average raw power, plus speed and a plus-plus throwing arm, though he's batting just .170 this season at Low-A while continuing to battle swing-and-miss issues.