After a slow start to free agency, the Boston Red Sox have begun to make moves to bolster their roster following a disappointing 2022 campaign.
On Wednesday the Red Sox signed outfielder Masataka Yoshida to a 5yr/$90M contract, while also doling out a $15.4M posting fee to his former club, the Orix Buffaloes.
Yoshida, 29, is coming off a stellar campaign as he hit .335/.447/.561 with 21HRs and 80 walks en route to a Japan Series championship with Orix. Even more impressive is the fact that he struck out just 41 times in 508 plate appearances, which is part of what made him such an attractive option to multiple MLB clubs vying for his services.
Over the past seven seasons, the left handed bat earned 2 Pacific League batting titles, was a 4x All-Star, won gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and was the NPB 2021 home run derby winner.
With his new deal, Yoshida now has the most guaranteed money of any position player who has made the jump from the NPB to MLB since the posting system was implemented. His 5 year pact narrowly edges out Cubs OF Seiya Suzuki who set the previous record with a 5yr/$85M contract this spring.
As a result of his high contact rate, lofty walk totals, and miniscule strikeout rate, Yoshida has managed to reach base safely in 40% of his plate appearances over the last 6 years. That elite plate discipline is what made the Red Sox front office confident that his skills would transfer to the MLB level.
In all likelihood, Yoshida will serve as a top of the order batter, while sliding into the starting left field position at Fenway Park. Prior to Wednesday, Boston had 26 year old Jarren Duran pencilled in for the starting LF gig.
Duran however is likely in need of some extra seasoning at Triple-A Worcester, or could serve as the team’s 4th outfielder after posting an uninspiring .219/.269/.354 slash line across the past 2 seasons.
The Blue Jays, Mariners, and Yankees were amongst the other teams who were reported to have had an interest in the Japanese star prior to his signing.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner
Photo: TSUBAME98. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.