The Red Sox received the young infielder from the Washington Nationals on Saturday in to get southpaw. The trade, reported that night, sends Mead, a prospect in his mid-20s prospect, from the Washington farm system to the club. Mead, listed as a top prospect, hit strongly while racking up home runs in Triple-A recently, entering his age-25 season. The trade strengthens Boston's middle-infield depth while Washington picks up a southpaw for its rotation. The Red Sox brass has been noisy on the trade market, looking to boost depth across the infield. Sources say that Mead brings strong bat and quiet defense that align with how the club wants to run its bench. In Washington, adding a left-handed piece addresses a hole the team has been trying to close for some time. The two clubs has addressed media on long-term plans for the players involved. For immediately, the focus shifts to spring results, where the 24 players will try to break camp. Lookahead: Boston gets youth upside, Washington gets an arm, and the league keeps an eye on how both work out.