The BoSox received infielder from the Washington club on the weekend in to get southpaw. The deal, initially reported Saturday evening, sends Mead, a prospect in his mid-20s infielder, from the Washington farm system to the Red Sox. Mead, listed as a top prospect, batted strongly while racking up long balls in top minor league level this past year, entering his age-25 campaign. The trade solidifies Boston's middle-infield depth while Washington picks up a southpaw for its rotation. The Red Sox brass has been active on the swap scene, seeking to boost flexibility across the infield. People close to the talks flag that Mead brings strong bat and clean hands that fit how the club wants to run its reserve bench. On the other side, adding a starter addresses a hole the team has been hoping to close for weeks. The two clubs has spoken on record on bigger picture ideas for the swap pieces. For today, the focus turns to spring results, where the fresh faces will try to earn spots. Lookahead: Boston gets room to grow, Washington gets rotation help, and the game monitors how both pay off.