The Red Sox got an early jolt from their trade deadline work, and then almost immediately had to hold their breath.
Curtis Mead, Boston’s newest addition from Washington, was hit on the wrist by a pitch in the top of the fourth inning against the Athletics on July 27. The ball slipped just below his hand guard and caught him in an exposed spot. Mead took first base and stayed in the game long enough to run, but he did not come back out for defense in the bottom of the inning.
The good news came quickly. Mead was diagnosed with a hand contusion, according to multiple sources including Tim Healey of The Boston Globe, and x-rays showed no break.
After the game, Mead said he has no issue squeezing the hand, though rotating the wrist is another matter. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy called him day-to-day and said his club "dodged a bullet maybe."
That’s the outcome Boston needed, especially with the middle infield already thin. Trevor Story, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Marcelo Mayer are all on the injured list, so a serious injury to Mead would have pushed the Red Sox into a much tougher spot.
Mead’s debut ended before Boston got a real look at him at the plate. He struck out looking in the first inning and was lifted in his second trip, so the Red Sox haven’t yet seen much of what they traded for. Still, the fact that he was slotted into the No. 2 spot after Ceddanne Rafaela - the game’s hero - says plenty about how quickly Boston wants him to settle in.
Before arriving in Boston, Mead hit .254/.352/.500 with 17 doubles, a triple, 17 home runs and 48 RBI in 87 games with the Nats. His 17 homers would rank second on the Red Sox behind Willson Contreras’s 22 and ahead of Wilyer Abreu’s 15. Boston also sees a fit with Fenway Park, thanks to Mead’s right-handed swing and 22.5 pull AIR percentage.
If the injury had turned out worse, the Red Sox’s first deadline move would have landed with a thud, especially with only two months left in the season. It also would have made the decision to send Connelly Early - who has been so reliable for the Sox in his young career - to Washington look a lot more painful. For now, Mead is expected to be healthy, and Boston can keep moving with him in the mix.
In Other News...
Red Sox May Have To Sacrifice A Familiar Name For Upgrade
The Red Sox are still looking hard at shortstop as the trade deadline approaches, and that search has naturally led to some familiar names and some expensive possibilities. Boston has been connected to Zach Neto, CJ Abrams, Jeremy Pea and Francisco Lindor as it weighs whether a move at the position could sharpen the roster for the stretch run, even if the path to doing so is not simple.
Trevor Story is part of the conversation because of both his place on the depth chart and the financial reality attached to him, since moving him would not be easy without Boston taking on salary. The clubs roster and payroll considerations could end up shaping the decision as much as the baseball fit, which is why the shortstop picture remains one of the more intriguing unresolved questions heading into the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Are Circling A Shortstop Move Fans Saw Coming
The shortstop market has been thin enough that every plausible name gets a hard look, and Boston has reportedly done more than just monitor the board. The Red Sox have inquired about Miami infielder Otto Lopez, a player who fits the kind of upgrade they could use as they try to patch an infield that has not offered enough offense.
Lopezs appeal is obvious beyond the fit. He is having a strong season, he remains under club control through 2029, and any team interested in prying him loose would likely have to pay a steep price. For Boston, that makes the pursuit both understandable and complicated, especially if the Marlins decide they are willing to listen. [Read more 🡒]
Former Red Sox Fan Favorite With Awesome Nickname Gets Another Shot
Jhostynxon Garcia is getting another look in the majors after the Pirates brought him up and put him in the lineup against the Diamondbacks. The former Red Sox outfielder has spent most of the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he put together a solid enough run to keep himself in the conversation, and he had already logged a brief big league stint earlier this year before getting this latest opportunity.
For Boston, Garcias path is a reminder of how quickly a familiar face can become part of a different organizations plans. He has already shown he can handle some major league pitching in limited action, and now he gets a chance to see if he can turn that into something more meaningful with Pittsburgh, with a familiar Red Sox connection waiting on the other side of the matchup. [Read more 🡒]