The Boston Red Sox's offseason needs are clear, with a power bat at the top of the list. Their lineup doesn't make it easy to fit one in, however.
The Sox's outfield logjam of the last few seasons persists. Boston is hopeful Roman Anthony will be able to give them a full healthy season in 2027, which will make the issue even worse. Given the state of the Red Sox's infield, it makes the most osense to add a slugger in the outfield or as the designated hitter, but the packed outfield doesn't permit such a move.
The Red Sox must move on from some outfielders this offseason, either via trade or less comfortable measures. Jarren Duran and Masataka Yoshida are the two odd men out, but Duran's trade value has plummeted and Yoshida's has always been minimal due to his high contract price relative to his offensive output.
It's hard to imagine Yoshida on the roster next year, given his limited skillset. Alex Speier of The Boston Globe agrees, saying it feels "likelier than not" that Yoshida is not with the Red Sox for the final year of his contract.
Red Sox could be forced to make desperate Masataka Yoshida decision to accommodate slugger in lineup
The Red Sox have tried and failed to trade Yoshida in the past. Finding a suitor for him could be easier now that he has just one year of his contract remaining. Yoshida also doesn't look like a bad deal compared to this year's lame free agent class.
But if the Sox can't find a trade partner, they'll have to make a tough call, because they can't get away with the roster crowding any longer. If it comes to it, Yoshida needs to be designated for assignment.
It will be a shame because Yoshida is a talented and consistent hitter when healthy. He's not a power hitter, though, which the Red Sox need more than anything. It doesn't help that every other outfield defender the Red Sox have is faster and rangier than Yoshida.
Yoshida's health is another conversation entirely. He's never played more than 140 games in an MLB season and he's played less and 88 in the last two seasons. He's averaged just under 98 games per year over his four seasons in the major leagues, and his $18 million salary is hard to justify for so few games.
The Red Sox shouldn't stop trying to trade Yoshida — getting anything in exchange, even some cash or some prospects, is preferable to letting him walk for nothing, especially because he could end up performing well for another team. But, at the same time, Boston shouldn't be afraid of DFAing him for an upgrade. It will still have to pay his salary, but that's a risk it has to take to improve.
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