The Red Sox received infielder from the Nationals on Saturday in exchange for left-handed pitcher. The deal, reported in the evening, sends Mead, a prospect in his mid-20s player, from their farm system to the club. Mead, listed as a notable young player, batted strongly while racking up home runs in Triple-A this past year, entering his age-25 campaign. The trade solidifies Boston's keystone area while Washington picks up a left arm for its rotation. Red Sox management has been active on the deal circuit, aiming to improve flexibility across the infield. People close to the talks say that Mead brings strong bat and clean hands that match how Boston wants to run its reserve bench. In Washington, adding a starter addresses a hole the team has been seeking to close for some time. Both teams has addressed media on long-term plans for the players involved. For today, the focus turns to spring results, where the roster hopefuls will try to break camp. Outlook: Boston gets room to grow, Washington gets rotation help, and the game monitors how both develop.