Masataka Yoshida had a tough yr in 2024, as he was restricted to simply 108 video games by a thumb damage that wound up inflicting pressure between him and the Purple Sox entrance workplace. On prime of that, Yoshida performed only one inning within the outfield final yr and was utilized as a platoon participant with few alternatives in opposition to southpaws. He hit simply .280/.349/.415 in 421 journeys to the plate in the course of the 2024 marketing campaign earlier than going below the knife to restore the labrum in his proper shoulder again in October.
As famous by Chris Cotillo of MassLive, supervisor Alex Cora informed reporters when requested all through the season about Yoshida’s restricted use within the outfield that utilizing him almost solely as a DH was not attributable to a well being situation and as a substitute was a vote of confidence within the protection of the membership’s quite a few different outfield choices. That appears as if it wasn’t completely the case, nevertheless, as Cora acknowledged at yesterday’s Fenway Fest fan occasion that the shoulder situation Yoshida performed by way of final yr restricted his means to play the sector by inflicting issues together with his throwing.
“Yeah, our outfield protection was nice final yr, however in an ideal world, if he was wholesome, he was going to play the outfield,” Cora stated, as relayed by Cotillo. “The throwing a part of it wasn’t there in order that’s the rationale he really didn’t play. Hopefully, we are able to get him there and we are able to use him within the outfield, too.”
On the time of Yoshida’s surgical procedure, the Purple Sox expressed optimism that he’d be prepared for Opening Day, and he seems to stay on tempo for that objective. Cotillo famous that the 31-year-old is about two weeks away from taking dry swings and will start a throwing program in March, which could lead him to be prepared in a DH-only capability for the beginning of the season earlier than later returning to the outfield grass as wanted. Having Yoshida restricted to DH duties early within the season shouldn’t be a large impediment for the Purple Sox, who don’t have any established on a regular basis DH in the mean time and are deep in outfield choices with Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Rob Refsnyder, and even perhaps prime prospect Roman Anthony all within the combine for taking part in time in the mean time.
In fact, this all assumes that Yoshida remains to be within the group by the point Opening Day rolls round. The Purple Sox have made getting extra offense from the fitting aspect a transparent precedence this offseason, however the membership’s roster is full of high quality regulars who bat from the left aspect. Duran, Rafael Devers, and Triston Casas all bat lefty and are ticketed for on a regular basis roles as issues stand. They’re joined by Abreu and Yoshida as probably platoon choices from the left aspect, and Anthony additionally figures to get common at-bats from the left aspect as soon as he’s promoted to the majors.
Between earlier stories of pressure between Yoshida and the Purple Sox in addition to his questionable match on the membership’s roster, it’s hardly a shock that Yoshida has discovered his title on the heart of commerce rumors this winter. Yoshida himself acknowledged the excitement surrounding him yesterday, telling Cotillo that he has heard the rumors however {that a} hypothetical commerce is “out of [his] management.” Up to now, it doesn’t appear as if the Purple Sox have gotten a lot curiosity in Yoshida from rival golf equipment and have equally had little success convincing a membership to tackle the ultimate three years and $55.8MM remaining on his contract as half of a bigger deal.
It’s a hefty worth to pay for a participant who would possibly profile greatest as a platoon DH. In spite of everything, Joc Pederson is a lower above Yoshida as a hitter in an identical position and settled for a two-year, $37MM assure with the Rangers earlier this winter. That contract means that the Purple Sox might solely discover a taker on Yoshida in the event that they’re keen to pay his wage right down to one thing under Pederson’s assure or tackle one other inflated contract in return. Provided that, it might make sense for the membership to carry onto Yoshida for at the very least the beginning of the 2025 season in hopes he can construct up his worth and a extra favorable deal might be labored out down the road. That plan would require committing vital enjoying time to Yoshida for at the very least the primary few months of 2025, doubtlessly blocking Anthony from impacting the large league membership early within the yr and making a little bit of a logjam within the outfield.
