Good morning.

• There was the first big trade of the Deadline happened over the weekend as the Nationals sent third baseman Curtis Mead to the Red Sox for left-hander Connelly Early.

• The decision by Boston to trade Early was so shocking that his former Red Sox teammate Payton Tolle thought it was an AI hoax.

• Jack Baer explains the deal.

• Patrick Stevens explains why the Nats agreed to trade Mead.

• Bradford Doolittle grades the deal. He’s likes the Nats end of the deal better.

• Mike Axisa also grades the trade. He also likes what the Nats got more, but he’s more positive on the Red Sox return.

• Chad Jennings and Tim Britton offer separate grades for the deal. (The Athletic sub. req.) Jennings thinks Boston will win the trade and Britton likes Washington’s end better.

• Mike Axisa explains why Nats left-hander Foster Griffn could be one of the hottest names at the deadline, just one year after returning from Japan. Axisa has the case for and against trading Griffin.

• Thomas Harrington asks if the Nationals are willing to pull the trigger and trade shortstop CJ Abrams?

• Aiden Stephansky looks at the Deadline plans of the Pirates and why they’re more likely to be buyers than sellers.

• Ryan Phillips argues that the Padres must trade closer Mason Miller.

• Scott Merkin asks if the White Sox could go all-in to acquire Miller.

• Michael Baumann calls rookie Bradgley Rodriguez the next great Padres reliever.

• Thomas Harrington has eight trade candidates who could be better than their numbers indicate.

• Keith Law offers his own Top 70 prospects (The Athletic sub. req.) for those wondering who has stuff to trade. Josiah Hartshorn and Jefferson Rojas are the Cubs prospects that made his list.

• The Marlins just lost their 12th-straight game.

• Johnny Flores Jr. asks if the Marlins current losing streak will turn them into sellers at the Deadline. (The Athletic sub. req.)

• Will the Marlins trade Sandy Alcantara now?

• Less than two weeks after trading for him, the Brewers have designated Lance McCullers Jr. for assignment.

• One player considered to be in big demand at the deadline was Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers. That’s probably over as Langeliers has a torn meniscus and is out for the year. Jeff Passan reports.

• Dan Szymborski wonders when the A’s will be a contender again.

• Mets outfielder Juan Soto will miss “considerable” time with a calf strain. Jorge Castillo reports.

• Castillo also reports that an emotional Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta said he “let them [the Mets] down” after what is probably his final start with the team.

• Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger landed on the IL with a hamstring strain.

• On Sunday in Cooperstown, the Hall of Fame held ceremonies for the inductions of Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent.

• Bradford Doolittle examines what the inductions of Beltrán, Jones and Kent means to the Hall.

• Ben Lindbergh thinks several of the “clean” players from the “Steroid Era” that got passed over for Cooperstown should get another chance at the ballot. In particular, he’s talking about Kenny Lofton.

• Jake Mintz looks at Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler, who is having the best season of his career.

• And finally, Bob Nightengale profiles former two-time World Series champion Scott Spiezio, who says he’s a “changed man” by getting clean after nearly losing everything after years of substance abuse.