After just a single season under a lucrative five-year, $90 million deal that brought him to the United States from Japan, Masataka Yoshida, the Boston Red Sox outfielder, unexpectedly found himself entangled in trade discussions during this offseason. Rumors about potential trade scenarios began circulating in early January, with reports from Jen McCarthy and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic indicating that Boston wasn’t actively shopping the left-handed hitter but was exploring options to restructure their outfield. The Red Sox had already undergone some outfield changes, with the departure of Alex Verdugo to the Bronx and the subsequent acquisition of former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
Adding a layer to the complexity, a recent report by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe highlights that Yoshida’s existing contract is a significant deterrent for any team expressing interest in acquiring his services. With four years and $72 million still remaining on his contract, which extends through his age-33 season, Yoshida’s defensive limitations, revealed in the previous season, prompted the Red Sox manager, Alex Cora, to predominantly utilize him as a designated hitter. This specialization severely limits the flexibility he offers to a new team and inevitably diminishes his trade value.
Considering the potential trade, it also raises questions about Boston’s front office strategy. Trading Yoshida might be perceived as either a misjudgment – signing a player lacking MLB experience to a substantial contract – or as another attempt to shed salary, contradicting the front office’s earlier commitment to significant offseason investments.
Despite Yoshida’s productive first season, a closer look reveals struggles in the latter half of the campaign. Anticipated improvement in performance post-All-Star break did not materialize, with Yoshida managing only three home runs and 19 RBIs in his final 47 games from August onward.
Examining recent trade strategies employed by the Boston front office, the ideal return for Yoshida would likely involve acquiring young, high-upside talent with a controllable contract, akin to the approach seen in the Alex Verdugo and Chris Sale trades. However, finding a willing trade partner ready to absorb Yoshida’s contract proves challenging. As the trade deadline looms, it appears increasingly probable that Yoshida will be donning the Red Sox uniform in the Opening Day lineup scheduled for March 28 in Seattle.
