Trading Connelly Early: A Panic Move

Am I the only one who was shocked to see that the Red Sox decided to trade Connely Early for Curtis Mead?
There are two ways to look at this. And I'll tell you right off the bat: the truth probably lies somewhere in between.
First, you could argue that the Red Sox addressed a pressing need (a right-handed hitter) by bringing in a player with some power who'll thrive at Fenway Park.
With Jake Bennett rising through the ranks in the Red Sox organization, Early was becoming a bit more tradable.
But