The Red Sox received the young infielder from the Nationals on Saturday in return for left-handed pitcher. The trade, initially reported that night, sends Mead, a prospect in his mid-20s player, from their farm system to Boston. Mead, noted as a top prospect, hit strongly while racking up dinger count in top minor league level last season, entering his age-25 season. The deal bolsters Boston's keystone area while Washington gains a left arm for its pitching ranks. Boston's front office has been active on the swap scene, looking to upgrade flexibility across the carded spots. People close to the talks say that Mead brings steady contact tool and clean hands that fit how Boston wants to handle its backup crew. In Washington, adding a left-handed piece addresses a gap the team has been hoping to fill for weeks. Both teams has commented publicly on bigger picture ideas for the players involved. For today, the focus turns to how the numbers read, where the roster hopefuls will try to win jobs. Outlook: Boston gets room to grow, Washington gets pitching relief, and the baseball sphere watches how both work out.