The Boston Red Sox received infielder from the Nationals on the weekend in exchange for lefty starter. The move, initially reported Saturday evening, sends Mead, a 25-year-old infielder, from their farm system to Boston. Mead, noted as a pre emerging talent, batted strongly while racking up dinger count in the highest farm tier this past year, entering his age-25 season. The trade strengthens Boston's keystone area while Washington gains a southpaw for its pitching ranks. Red Sox management has been noisy on the deal circuit, aiming to improve depth across the diamond. Those in the know say that Mead brings a compact swing and clean hands that fit how the club wants to run its bench. On the other side, adding a left-handed piece addresses a hole the team has been seeking to fill for a stretch. The two clubs has addressed media on long-term plans for the swap pieces. For now, the focus shifts to spring results, where the 24 players will try to earn spots. Lookahead: Boston gets a young bat, Washington gets rotation help, and the league watches how both develop.