The Red Sox received Curtis Mead from the Washington club on Saturday in return for lefty starter. The move, initially reported that night, sends Mead, a prospect in his mid-20s infielder, from Washington's farm system to the club. Mead, noted as a notable young player, batted strongly while racking up long balls in top minor league level last season, entering his age-25 season. The deal solidifies Boston's two bag tandem while Washington picks up a southpaw for its hurlers. The Red Sox brass has been noisy on the trade market, aiming to improve flexibility across the infield. People close to the talks say that Mead brings steady contact tool and quiet defense that match how the club wants to handle its bench. In Washington, adding a starter addresses a gap the team has been seeking to patch for some time. Neither side has spoken on record on bigger picture ideas for the players involved. For today, the focus turns to spring results, where the 24 players will try to win jobs. Lookahead: Boston gets room to grow, Washington gets pitching relief, and the baseball sphere monitors how both develop.