The Nationals have made their first deal ahead of the August 3 trade deadline, acquiring LHP Connelly Early from the Red Sox in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead.

To replace Mead on the active roster, the Nats called up third baseman Brady House from Triple-A Rochester.

Early, 24, was Boston’s No. 3 prospect and No. 52 in MLB entering this season according to Baseball America, and was a fifth-round pick out of the University of Virginia in 2023 – a draft that Nats POBO Paul Toboni had a big hand in as Boston’s Vice President of Amateur Scouting and Player Development, but a position he tried to put out of his mind while discussing terms with the Red Sox.

“I was very careful about not relaying my opinions on Connelly, and letting others who don’t know him share their opinions,” Toboni said Sunday. “At the end of the day it made sense in a lot of folks’ minds here, and I’m really excited about it. He’s a stud competitor, brings great energy to the clubhouse, and just an awesome get for us from a talent perspective and a clubhouse perspective.”

The lefty is currently on the injured list with elbow inflammation, but before heading to the IL on July 1, he was 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA over 17 starts, with 93 strikeouts and 34 walks in 91 2/3 innings.

Toboni told the media Sunday that Early threw a side on Friday and is set to begin a rehab assignment on August 3, and he expects the lefty to pitch for the Nationals this season, which will give their rotation a big boost amidst uncertainty in the back end and rumors around potentially trading Foster Griffin.

“We believe in this team, and we want to give them a shot,” Toboni said. “Connelly, I think, helps with that. Obviously, it’s a blow with Curtis leaving. But at the same time, we have full trust and belief with Brady (House) coming up and others that will contribute. I think on the whole, it just made sense for us.”

Early made his MLB debut last September, so he will have five seasons minimum of team control left after this season, and will not be eligible for arbitration until after the 2028 season.

Mead was acquired from the White Sox just after the season started and has had a breakout year with the Nats, slashing .254/.352/.500 2ith 17 homers and 48 RBI in 87 games while playing both corner infield spots.

“We were not really expecting to really consider anything for Curtis, to be completely honest, but over the last few days, a couple teams were getting aggressive with what they were willing to give up to acquire Curtis, so we got to a point where it made sense,” Toboni said. “It was a difficult one for us given how we feel about Curtis as a player as a person.”

Boston has Willson Contreras entrenched at first base and Caleb Durbin has started 92 games at third, but Mead could take the reins at the hot corner and allow Durbin, who was primarily a second baseman in the minors, to move over to that position.

Second has been in flux all year, due in part to injuries to top prospect Marcelo Mayer, and has seen three players – Mayer, Anthony Seigler (who came from Milwaukee with Durbin), and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (also on the IL) – start at least 20 games each.

As for the Nats’ replacement for Mead, House hit .227 with seven homers in 44 games for the Nats earlier this season, but he has slashed .301/.342/.500 with eight homers, 34 RBI, and 11 doubles in 54 games at Rochester since being sent down.