Red Sox Face Roster Crunch as Yoshida’s Role Diminishes
The Red Sox have a problem on their hands. After signing Alex Bregman to play third base and shifting Rafael Devers to DH, they’ve created a roster logjam that might push Masataka Yoshida out of Boston.
Yoshida, who signed a five-year, $90 million deal in 2023, hasn’t quite delivered on expectations despite posting respectable numbers. He slashed .280/.349/.415 with 10 homers in 108 games last season. Now he’s dealing with a back injury while watching his potential at-bats disappear.
The issue is straightforward. Bregman takes over at third, Devers moves to DH, and Yoshida—who’s primarily been a DH in his Boston tenure—suddenly lacks a clear role. Of his 248 appearances with the Red Sox, 150 have come as the designated hitter.
This roster squeeze has led to speculation about Yoshida’s future. FanSided’s Zach Pressnell predicts this will be Yoshida’s final season in Boston.
“The idea was Devers would move to the designated hitter role while Bregman took over at the hot corner,” Pressnell wrote. “With this in mind, the Red Sox are noticeably running out of places to put their expensive DH Masataka Yoshida. What does this mean? It likely means the Red Sox will continue to look to offload his massive contract by trading him to a different contender at some point this season.”
The defensive limitations make things even trickier. Yoshida isn’t known for his glove work, which is why he’s been primarily a DH. With that spot now occupied, he becomes an extremely expensive rotational piece.
Finding a trade partner won’t be easy given his contract, but there are potential landing spots if Boston is willing to eat some money. “A team like the Cincinnati Reds or Detroit Tigers may take a shot on him if the Red Sox eat a chunk of his contract,” Pressnell suggests.
The Red Sox have invested heavily in both Bregman and Yoshida, but it’s becoming increasingly clear they can’t maximize both players’ values simultaneously. Something’s got to give, and Yoshida’s days in Boston might be numbered as a result.
