Multiple years into an outfield logjam (that's even deeper now following the acquisitions of Eli White and Jahmai Jones), the Boston Red Sox are still far from clearing it. But their second consecutive Wild Card exit at the hands of the New York Yankees demands change in the lineup and trades will be required to make them.
Jarren Duran has long been the odd man out in Boston's outfield — he's yet another lefty with just a few years left on his contract and a history of MVP caliber play to keep suitors interested. As long as Duran has been mentioned in trade rumors, Masataka Yoshida has been right beside him. Before the 2027 campaign begins, the Red Sox must make the move.
Yoshida is entering the final season of the five-year, $90 million contract he signed with the Red Sox before the 2023 season. He's owed over $18 million in his fifth year. Boston might not be able to trade him without eating some of that money, but it needs the roster flexibility more than it needs freed up cash, of which John Henry and Fenway Sports Group have plenty.
Yoshida has been part of the Red Sox's rotating designated hitter setup in the last few years, which largely has not worked. The constant changes in the lineup keep the rotating players from getting daily reps and it keeps the best hitters out of the lineup some days.
Red Sox's roster is too cluttered to justify keeping Masataka Yoshida on it for another year
When Yoshida is healthy he's a consistent, talented hitter, but he doesn't meet the Red Sox's power needs. He's slashed .280/.339/.420 with 84 doubles, four triples, 34 home runs and 182 RBI over 390 games across parts of four seasons.
This year's free agent class is underwhelming. Randy Arozarena and Seiya Suzuki are the top outfield talents. The competition for them is sure to be fierce and result in an overpay for their services. A team in need of a short-term, consistent-hitting outfielder might be more willing to trade for a player like Yoshida as opposed to signing someone for an inflated price off the free agent market.
It makes the most sense for the Red Sox to add their power bat in the outfield or in the DH spot. The infield is packed with Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras, who should be in the lineup as much as possible, Trevor Story, Curtis Mead, top prospect Franklin Arias and others. If the Sox can find a suitor for Yoshida (and for Duran, while they're at it), the DH spot opens for the slugger they desperately need.
Trading Yoshida is easier said than done given his injury history and defensive struggles in the outfield, but the Red Sox must open his roster spot for a home run threat. Their needs are exceedingly clear and Yoshida doesn't meet them.
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