As the Boston Red Sox head into the offseason, they are faced with key decisions on how to upgrade their roster to compete in 2025. Pitching depth and right-handed offensive power are clear areas of need, but there’s also a pressing issue with balancing their lineup, which skewed too heavily to the left side this past season.
One player who could be on the move is designated hitter/outfielder Masataka Yoshida. According to FanSided’s Ryan Bunton, Yoshida’s time in Boston may be nearing its end, as speculation grows about his future with the team.
“Masataka Yoshida always finds his way onto these types of lists,” Bunton wrote. “After signing a five-year, $90 million deal (plus an additional $15.4 million posting fee) with the Boston Red Sox in Dec. 2022, Yoshida hasn’t lived up to expectations in his two seasons in Boston.”
Yoshida’s numbers from 2024—.280/.349/.415 with 10 home runs and 56 RBI in 421 plate appearances—aren’t awful, but they fall short of justifying the sizable financial commitment Boston made to him. The 30-year-old’s defensive limitations have compounded the problem, as Yoshida transitioned from playing 87 games in left field during his rookie season to a designated hitter-only role in 2024. His value is primarily tied to his bat, but that hasn’t been enough to prevent ongoing trade rumors linking him to other teams.
Boston is eager to diversify its offense, and with Yoshida’s struggles both at the plate and in the field, his left-handed bat may be expendable as the team seeks balance. Moving Yoshida would free up a spot in the lineup for a more versatile or productive right-handed hitter—exactly what the Red Sox need to address their weaknesses.
While injuries and adaptation to the MLB may have played a role in Yoshida’s underwhelming performance, the team faces a tough decision. Keeping him for another season with the hope of a turnaround, or dealing him to clear room for more effective upgrades, will be part of the ongoing discussions in the Red Sox front office this winter.
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