The BoSox received the young infielder from the Nationals on Saturday in return for lefty starter. The trade, reported that night, sends Mead, a 25-year-old prospect, from their farm system to the club. Mead, noted as a notable young player, batted strongly while racking up long balls in Triple-A recently, entering his age-25 campaign. The deal strengthens Boston's two bag tandem while Washington picks up a southpaw for its pitching ranks. Red Sox management has been noisy on the swap scene, seeking to improve versatility across the infield. People close to the talks flag that Mead brings steady contact tool and steady glove that align with how Boston wants to run its bench. In Washington, adding a starter addresses a hole the team has been hoping to fill for some time. The two clubs has addressed media on long-term plans for the talents. For now, the focus moves to camp showings, where the 24 players will try to break camp. Lookahead: Boston gets a young bat, Washington gets pitching relief, and the game monitors how both develop.