The Boston Red Sox added a new piece to their infield on Saturday night with the acquisition of Curtis Mead from Washington. Mead was inserted into the lineup for his debut on Monday but suffered a fracture in his left wrist after being hit by a pitch. He exited the game early and later expressed disappointment about the timing of the injury. Mead said he had hoped to contribute from the start and that it was a frustrating moment in his first game with the team. Despite the setback, he noted that his team had won the game in which he played.
The injury has thrown the Red Sox infield into disarray just as they were building momentum in July. Boston had been hoping to solidify its shortstop position with Mead’s arrival, but now the team must look for alternatives. The club is also dealing with another shortstop issue as Trevor Story remains out following hernia surgery. With the situation uncertain, decision-makers may return to the trade market in search of a more stable option.
The Red Sox are reportedly interested in several players, including Zach Neto from the Angels and CJ Abrams from the Nationals. The Angels are open to discussing a deal for Neto, but they may not be in a hurry to trade him. The Nationals are also reportedly open to offers for Abrams, although he would likely require a significant return. Other names on the list include Jeremy Peña from the Astros and Otto Lopez from the Marlins. Peña is a potential trade target because he could be available after 2027, while Lopez has years of team control remaining.
In other moves, the Tigers’ pitching situation is drawing attention as they look to trade starting pitcher Tarik Skubal. Some teams have hesitated to call the Tigers about Skubal, respecting their current playoff push. The Dodgers have been linked with Skubal but are reportedly not planning a major move this trade deadline. The Tigers are still hoping to make a playoff run, which affects their willingness to trade Skubal.
Meanwhile, the Cubs are also looking for pitching help as they prepare for the trade deadline. They currently have a rotation that includes Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea, and David Peterson. Javier Assad is likely to step in if a spot opens up due to an injury or release. The Cubs’ front office is cautious about making aggressive moves, preferring long-term roster building over short-term fixes. However, if the team gets a first-round playoff bye, they may be more open to big trades. The Cubs are also considering young arms like Jordan Detmers or Yency Almonte as potential additions. The Angels have shown interest in acquiring a young catcher, and the Cubs’ top prospect Owen Ayers fits that role.
The White Sox are also interested in Detmers, who could be a good fit for their improving team. The White Sox are not in contention this year but are showing signs of improvement and could look for a controllable pitcher.
In the meantime, the Red Sox have recalled Nick Sogard to fill Mead’s roster spot.
IMAGE: Curtis Mead, Texas Rangers 9, Tampa Bay Rays 3, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida. Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA / Wikimedia, taken 2024-04-01, CC BY-SA 2.0