The Nationals got an early start on trade deadline season Saturday night.

The team agreed to a deal sending corner infielder Curtis Mead to the Boston Red Sox for left-handed starting pitcher Connelly Early, a source confirmed.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the deal.

Acquiring Mead before the season proved to be a shrewd move by president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, who sent catching prospect Boston Smith to the Chicago White Sox in the trade. The front office took a chance on Mead’s pedigree and bet that he would thrive with a more consistent role than he had with the Rays and White Sox.

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After succeeding as a platoon bat facing left-handed pitching early in the season, Mead shifted into more of an everyday role and continued to thrive. He has a career-high 17 homers and an .852 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 284 at-bats. The coaching staff helped Mead pull the ball more in the air, unlocking his power.

Early is a promising young arm who can fill a rotation spot for the pitching-needy Nationals, though he’s been on the 15-day injured list since exiting his June 30 start against Washington with left elbow inflammation. An MRI reportedly revealed no structural damage.

Early is under team control through 2031. The Nationals’ starting rotation is 24th in the majors in ERA (4.50) and has the second fewest innings pitched at 453 2/3. Outside of right-hander Cade Cavalli, there aren’t any high-caliber starters in the rotation who would likely be in Washington beyond this season.

All-Star left-hander Foster Griffin signed a one-year deal in the offseason after spending three years in Japan, and the 30-year-old could be a valuable trade asset ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.

Early is 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 17 starts this season. Toboni and members of the front office are familiar with Early from their time in Boston. At 6-foot-3, the 24-year-old Virginia native has good extension down the mound. He uses a six-pitch mix and relies primarily on his four-seamer, sinker, changeup and curveball.

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Third baseman Brady House will be recalled to fill Mead’s spot, a source confirmed. The former top prospect started the season in Washington but was sent down to Triple-A Rochester after hitting .227 with a .681 OPS in 44 games.

Since the start of July, the 23-year-old has found his power stroke with the Red Wings, hitting five doubles, three triples and four homers in 78 at-bats.

With a record of 53-52, the Nationals are only two games out of a wild-card spot. They have the highest scoring offense in baseball but have been hampered by their lack of pitching, so the acquisition of Early, if healthy, could help with a push for the postseason.

This could be the first of many deals for Toboni, who has to walk the line between continuing to build a foundation for the future while overseeing a surprisingly competitive team in the thick of the playoff hunt.