Red Sox may trade slugger Masataka Yoshida after recovery

The Boston Red Sox are facing a tough decision regarding player Masataka Yoshida. He signed a five-year, $90 million contract two years ago but has struggled to show if the investment was worth it. Yoshida is known for being a skilled hitter. Over the past two seasons, he has a batting average of .285 and has been reliable at the plate, with only 133 strikeouts in nearly 1,001 appearances. However, he struggles with base running and fielding, and does not hit for the power expected from a designated hitter. Currently, Yoshida is recovering from shoulder surgery, which will likely put him on the injured list. His situation is complicated by the Red Sox’s recent signing of third baseman Alex Bregman. This move has shifted Rafael Devers to the designated hitter role, leaving little room for Yoshida to get regular playing time. With $54 million left on his contract and limited defending skills, trading Yoshida may be challenging. MassLive reporter Sean McAdam noted that though trading him seems like the best option, it might not be feasible, especially coming off surgery and with Yoshida's one-dimensional skill set. The Red Sox attempted to trade Yoshida during the offseason but did not find a team willing to take on his salary. The team may have to wait until he recovers fully to boost his value before considering a trade again.