Masataka Yoshida has been a major disappointment for the Boston Red Sox since signing a five-year, $90 million deal in the 2022-2023 offseason. Yoshida, a star for the Orix Buffaloes in Japan, was posted to MLB following the 2022 season, and the Red Sox won the sweepstakes by landing him with a surprisingly large high bid. However, his tenure in Boston has not gone according to plan.
Yoshida has not posted above a 1.6 bWAR in any of his four big league seasons, and has been limited to just 142 games combined across the past two years due to injury woes. Now, Yoshida is entering the final year of his contract and is owed $18 million in 2027. The Red Sox could explore dealing him this winter and we're going to take a look at five potential trade partners for Boston and Yoshida.
5 potential Masataka Yoshida trade partners for the Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
This would be an intra-division trade with the AL East rival Toronto Blue Jays, a team in need of outfield help this offseason. Yoshida can play left field and can also DH, the latter of which the Blue Jays also need, given George Springer is expected to depart. The Blue Jays could acquire Yoshida from Boston and slide him into left field, bumping Nathan Lukes over to center field on an everyday basis. The only dilemma is that this would give Toronto a fully left-handed hitting starting outfield with Yoshida, Lukes and Addison Barger - but, as previously mentioned, Yoshida fits as the Blue Jays' DH as well.
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are another team that needs outfielders this winter. The only mainstay in their outfield currently is right fielder Cam Smith. Yoshida wouldn't see time as the DH, given the presence of superstar Yordan Alvarez, but he certainly fits in as Houston's left fielder. When healthy, Yoshida could be a solid contact hitter and on-base guy in the Astros' lineup. The Red Sox should find a way to get a deal done that would send Yoshida to Houston, since they're one of the more outfield-needy teams in the league. They could also use another left-handed bat in a right-handed heavy lineup.
Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels, frequent basement residents of the AL West, are under new ownership after Stan Kroenke bought the team for $4 billion. The Angels now have money to spend and need more everyday big leaguers in their lineup, which is where Yoshida comes in. Yoshida could slide in as the Angels' starting left fielder or DH if Moisés Ballesteros doesn't pan out in that spot. If he can stay on the field, Yoshida might be able to finally reach his potential while playing for the Angels if Boston sends him there.
Philadelphia Phillies
Outfield was an area of weakness for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2026 season, so much so that the Phillies moved Bryce Harper back to right field after acquiring second baseman Luis Arraez at the trade deadline. If the Phillies want to shift Harper back to first base, they can trade for Yoshida and either slot him into left field or right field. The only issue is that the Phillies, like Toronto, would then have an entire outfield of left-handed bats with Yoshida, Justin Crawford and Brandon Marsh. The Phillies also have a pretty heavy left-handed hitting lineup as it is.
San Diego Padres
Last but not least, we have the San Diego Padres, who actually found a solid platoon in left field down the stretch, featuring Dustin Harris and Samad Taylor. However, if the Padres want a left fielder with more of a track record and higher ceiling, they could pursue a trade with the Red Sox for Yoshida. The 33-year-old could also overtake Gavin Sheets as the Padres' everyday DH. Yoshida would give the Padres another lefty bat in a righty-heavy lineup and would add versatility to the Padres' roster between left field and DH.
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