The White Sox have acquired catcher Boston Smith from the Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead, both teams have announced. Mead was designated for assignment earlier this week after falling short of an Opening Day roster spot. Smith was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft. To open up a 40-man roster spot for Mead, Washington designated lefty Jake Eder for assignment.
A former top prospect with the Rays, Mead spent the final two months of 2025 with the White Sox after coming over in the Adrian Houser trade. He scuffled to a 64 wRC+ in 41 games with the club. Mead hit .233 with a couple of home runs in 10 spring games as he battled for a big-league job. He lost out on the final bench spot to outfielder Tristan Peters.
Mead signed with the Phillies as a minor league free agent in 2018. He was dealt to the Rays straight up for future All-Star Cristopher Sanchez the following year. Mead mashed in the minors in his first full season in the Tampa Bay organization, delivering a 142 wRC+ across three levels in 2021. He continued to pound minor league pitching over the next two seasons.
MLB Pipeline ranked Mead as the Rays’ No. 2 prospect in 2023, behind only right-hander Taj Bradley. He debuted with the club that year, holding his own as a 22-year-old with a .253/.326/.349 slash line in 92 plate appearances. Despite the respectable debut, Mead was limited to part-time work with the Rays in 2024 and 2025. His production was underwhelming at the plate, though he did provide some defensive versatility. Mead spent time at first base, second base, and third base, while also making an appearance at shortstop.
Washington has been active in the infield market over the past week. The club acquired Jorbit Vivas and Zack Short from the Yankees in separate deals. Mead will now join the list. It’s unclear whether he’ll be with the big-league club or head to the minors. Chicago was more in need of an outfielder to fill out the roster following the Brooks Baldwin injury, but the Nats are thinner on the dirt.
Smith was selected with the No. 171 overall pick out of Wright State. The backstop popped 26 home runs in his final season with the Raiders. The 23-year-old has yet to suit up in the minors. Chicago has a pair of talented young catchers on the big-league squad in Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero. Veteran Reese McGuire is currently backing up Quero as Teel deals with a hamstring strain suffered in the World Baseball Classic.
Eder was signed by the Marlins as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He was traded to the White Sox for Jake Burger at the 2023 trade deadline. After a handful of uninspiring seasons in the minors with Chicago, he was sent to the Angels for cash in March 2025. Eder made eight appearances for the big-league club, pitching to a 4.91 ERA across 18 1/3 innings. The lefty found his way to the Nationals in a trade that sent relievers Andrew Chafin and Luis García back to the Angels. Eder was tagged for seven earned runs over seven minor league innings with Washington.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas and Peter Aiken, Imagn Images
Wrong Sox…
First ever Boston White Sock?
Daryl Boston
Touche
White Goodman gif touche 😂
If this Ohio born lefty hitting C/LF is half as good as fellow “Buckeye” Kyle Schwarber the White Sox may have something even if DH duty is in his future.:-)
Finally we get a catcher!
Had to replace the one we just let go! lol
Still waiting on the DFA outcome of Korey Lee. Another trade would be preferable over a strict waiver claim. If he happens to clear waivers I also wouldn’t mind him back at AAA Charlotte as a nice depth piece.
He cleared waivers and will report to Charlotte
A few years ago, half the team was 1B. Then relievers. Now C’s. White Sox are just dumb, and I say that as an unfortunate diehard fan.
They should do something fun like all players with city or state names.
Bring back Burger & Fry!
But in exchange they have positional flexibility which isn’t a bad problem to have.
If an organization can stock pile at premium positions like SS and C that is not a bad thing at all. It gives the organization depth and also potentially more valuable trade pieces down the road in comparison to the other positions.
Currently the White Sox have excellent organizational depth at both SS and C with perhaps the best still yet to come with Roch Cholowsky on the way later this summer via UCLA. Having athleticism at middle infield positions also opens the door to some of that depth moving to other positions including a premium one like CF. If the player also has power it could mean a move to a corner INF or OF spot.
I’m not overly concerned how this season goes, especially early season, Starting the season against Brewers would be tough for 95% of all MLB team. 75-78 wins possible
They could use depth at CF too and I agree with the rest.
It’s only a good thing to the point you have good players. Lee is a solid backup, but just passed through waivers, so nobody even wants him. Quero and Teel are valuable, but all these others aren’t. They’re just extras.
The situation at SS is completely different. Colson, Carlson, and Roch are all above average or better defenders, Carlson being elite, so there’s a real issue to sort out, but a good one. Having 27 backup C’s and two good ones doesn’t really qualify as stockpiling loads of talent at a premium position.
Antonnaci and Bergolla are the best of the pack. Cant wait to see them on the Sox.
Info alert. Boston Smith plays catcher, 3b, 1b & all outfield positions
Typically SS are the best athletes, resulting in a seamless conversion to other positions of need like CF. And backup QB and point guard. Good news Bear and Bull fans: more positional depth on its way.
He also plays LF and 3B. The bat may play at one of the power positions.
We got a good young batter, good move Sox!
That remains to be seen. Boston Smith was just drafted last July and only played 18 games in the hybrid amateur–professional MLB Draft League. After today’s trade, he was assigned to the White Sox ACL Rookie League affiliate to begin his “professional” career. He hit well in college, albeit with teams in less regarded conferences. We’ll soon see how fast he can acclimate to pro ball and earn a promotion to one of the White Sox class A affiliates.
I’m sure you scouted Boston Smith in your free time. Why would scouts be on Trade Runors anyway? Oh wait you not a scout or in player development, right? If every team had your knowledge nobody would have to look any further than you, Mr. AaronMacPhisto
I think he knows more about the minor leagues than you or I do. I like reading posts where I can learn something about players I may not have heard of.
Yawn!!
Yea every team needs 9 catchers
Every organization needs more than that many to fill their MLB roster and typical 4 minor league teams…to say nothing of their Rookie League teams stateside and in the DSL.
Kyle Teel is also extremely athletic, a catcher who can hit and steal some bases. He’d be more than capable of playing a corner OF spot down the road rather than just being a DH when Edgar Quero is behind the plate.
Korey Lee is also more athletic than your average catcher. He’d need to improve his hit tool enough to match his decent power. If and when that happens it will likely be with another organization with Teel and Quero firmly atop the White Sox depth chart.
Barring another injury to Keel or Quero, Reese McGuire is a clear summer trade candidate. At some point down the road, the White Sox may also need to choose between Keel and Quero as their primary catcher and consider dealing the other for help in other positions of need.
*Looks like I just gave Kyle Teel a new nickname…”Keel”. lol
Wow… it’s actually a fairly big trade as far as prospects go. Mead was a higher end prospect very recently and Smith has some really good numbers. Interesting 🧐
Who is going to be removed from the White Sox roster when Teel returns? Mcguire, Paez, Fedde?