The Boston Red Sox made a rare splash in MLB free agency last offseason by signing Masataka Yoshida to a five-year contract. Just one year after spending more than $100 million on the Japanese hitter, Boston is now trying desperately to trade him.
Yoshida, 30, was a four-time All-Star in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Orix Buffaloes. Following the 2022 season, he was posted for bidding by the Buffaloes for all 30 teams. In December 2022, the Red Sox signed Yoshida to a five-year, $90 million contract and paid the Buffaloes a $15.375 million posting fee.
- Masataka Yoshida stats: .289/.338/.445, 15 home runs, 72 RBI, .783 OPS, 0.8 fWAR
- Aug. 1 – Oct. 1: .257/.276/.371, 68 wRC+, 18.8% strikeout rate
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In his MLB debut, the 5-foot-8 outfielder got off to a fast start. He posted a .354 batting average in May and after a down June (.269 batting average), posted a .314/.344/.500 slash line in July. However, Yoshida’s play worsened as the season went on and Boston eventually decided it needed to explore alternatives.
Not long after the Red Sox traded Alex Verdugo to the New York Yankees, the Red Sox put Yoshida on the trade block. In the weeks since his name started floating in MLB trade rumors, it appears Boston’s phone lines have been very quiet.
Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reports that despite the Red Sox best efforts to find a trade partner, MLB teams have shown “virtually no interest” in making a deal for Yoshida.
“The Red Sox have remained open to dealing outfielder Masataka Yoshida this offseason, but there’s been virtually no interest from teams in assuming the remaining four years and $72 million he’s owed.”
Alex Speier on trade interest in Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida
- Masataka Yoshida contract: $18.6 million annual salary from 2024-‘2027
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The lack of interest in Yoshida isn’t even necessarily tied completely to his lack of production in the second half of the season nor is it hindsight on a bad decision by the Red Sox. Immediately after Boston signed the Japanese outfielder, an MLB exec ripped the franchise for vastly overpaying compared to what other teams were willing to spend.
Even if Yoshida returned to form at the plate, he was one of the worst outfielders in baseball last season defensively. He ranked in the 52nd percentile for Arm Strength and finished with -8 Outs Above Average in 713.1 innings playing left field. Barring a sudden willingness from Boston to eat a substantial portion of the contract, it appears Yoshida will play for the Red Sox in 2024.
