The Boston Red Sox surprised their fans overnight Saturday into Sunday, making a big roster move by trading Connelly Early for infielder Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals. This wasn’t just a simple swap, though, because Mead’s arrival immediately pushed shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng down to Triple-A Worcester. That’s a huge shake-up for Boston’s infield just as they head out on a road trip.
Mead Arrives, Bringing the Bat, But What About the Glove?
Curtis Mead is coming to Boston, and his .852 OPS from the Nationals suggests he’s bringing some serious offense to the lineup. He didn’t get into Sunday’s series finale against the Blue Jays, but he’s slated to officially join the roster and link up with the team for their four-game series in Sacramento against the Athletics. While a new bat is always welcome, especially one with Mead’s numbers, there’s a flip side to this story. Mead isn’t known for his glove, and the source says he’s a worse fielder than Caleb Durbin. This matters, a lot, for Boston’s infield configuration moving forward.
The Shortstop Situation Just Got Real for Boston
Demoting Tsung-Che Cheng, a shortstop known for his impressive glovework, creates an immediate problem. With Cheng now back in New England and the team heading west, the Red Sox are looking mighty thin at shortstop. Andruw Monasterio is probably the most natural healthy shortstop they have right now. The coaching staff has even discussed the idea of Caleb Durbin taking reps at the position to give him some versatility, and he might have to start doing that right away. It’s clear Mead won’t be playing short, and Anthony Seigler has never played the position professionally either. Boston seems to be banking on a speedy return from Trevor Story, or maybe hoping Franklin Arias can force his way up to the MLB level. They could still make another trade for a shortstop, but nothing has happened yet.
So, for now, the Red Sox are off to Sacramento with a real hole at shortstop and a new infielder who is definitely meant to boost the batting order, not plug the defensive gaps. It’s a tricky spot, and how they manage that four-game set against the Athletics will tell us a lot about their plan for the infield going forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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