The Boston Red Sox arrived at the Winter Meetings and were immediately hit with the disappointment of failing to obtain Juan Soto. Still, the Red Sox remain optimistic about landing some other pieces before leaving Dallas. The Sox would also like to rid themselves of some pieces, most notably designated hitter Masataka Yoshida.
While Yoshida hasn’t been a colossal failure since arriving in Boston just two seasons ago, he has not been the run-producing machine he was promised to be when the Red Sox signed him to a five-year, $90 million deal. He has produced a total of 25 home runs, 128 RBI, and an OBP of .349. Certainly not numbers worthy of his contract.
Now the question is, who will take Yoshida in a trade and how much of his contract will the Red Sox have to eat? Here are a few candidates that might consider the left-handed hitting Yoshida.
5 potential Red Sox trade partners for designated hitter Masataka Yoshida
Los Angeles Dodgers
You can’t possibly shop Yoshida around without kicking the tires on the Dodgers machine. On the surface, the Dodgers might not have any interest since signing Michael Conforto recently and still in the hunt for Teoscar Hernandez. However, they have proven to be a solid location for Japanese players and Yoshida does have a relationship with Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers also have the capital to take on more of his contract than most teams. The Red Sox would gladly take some marginal prospects to move on from Yoshida’s contract.
Los Angeles Angels
Since they’re already kicking the tires in Southern California, why not give the Angels a call? This team is desperate for offense and would certainly listen to the Red Sox offer. Again, if the Red Sox are willing to eat some of the contract, Yoshida can serve as a DH/LF platoon player for the Angels and give them a player capable of getting on base, possibly even someone that can protect Trout in the lineup.
St. Louis Cardinals
This might be a pipe dream but the Red Sox could try and include Yoshida in any package that might net them third baseman Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals will be losing some pop by letting go of Arenado and would consider Yoshida at a reduced rate. He could plug in as part of a platoon outfield situation and DH. The Red Sox will certainly have to pony up some prospects to net Arenado but it would be worth a try to include Yoshida in any offer.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs could also use more production out of their offense and could immediately slot Yoshida as their everyday DH. The Red Sox could consider a few options in a deal like this: The Cubs have a surplus of middle infielders and they could aim for a defensive minded one like Nico Hoerner. The Sox could also try and pry a veteran pitcher like lefty Drew Smyly. His days as a starter may be over but he proved to be effective this past year out of the bullpen with an ERA of 3.84 and 10 holds in 50 appearances.
Detroit Tigers
This deal would like cost the Red Sox the most in terms of salary they would have to eat. The Tigers are certainly in win-now mode after last year’s surprising performance. Yoshida certainly could provide an excellent platoon with veteran Mark Canha in left field and serve as DH insurance for the oft-injured Kerry Carpenter. Boston can ask for big league pitching in the deal but would certainly settle for a B-level prospect. The offer could be managed as such, the better the return, the more willing the Red Sox would be to eat some of the salary.
One thing is clear, the Red Sox don’t have a place for Yoshida given the current makeup of the team and where their interests lie both in terms of free agents and trades. The time is now to make a move and, given ownership’s claim that the team will spend, eating some of this contract would be a reasonable expense. Now, if they can just find a dance partner.