The Boston Red Sox received the young infielder from the Nationals on Saturday in exchange for left-handed pitcher. The move, first reported that night, sends Mead, a 25-year-old infielder, from the Washington farm system to the club. Mead, listed as a notable young player, batted strongly while racking up dinger count in Triple-A recently, entering his age-25 run. The trade bolsters Boston's middle-infield depth while Washington adds a left-handed starter for its hurlers. The Red Sox brass has been active on the trade market, looking to improve depth across the carded spots. Sources flag that Mead brings a compact swing and quiet defense that match how the club wants to handle its backup crew. In Washington, adding a left-handed piece addresses a need the team has been hoping to close for weeks. The two clubs has addressed media on long-term plans for the swap pieces. For now, the focus moves to spring results, where the fresh faces will try to win jobs. Lookahead: Boston gets a young bat, Washington gets an arm, and the game watches how both work out.