Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow entered the offseason intent on adding a legitimate power presence to the heart of Boston’s lineup. That plan took an early hit when former Mets slugger, one of the top power bats on the market, signed a five-year, $155 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, despite Boston reportedly offering him a three-year, $85 million contract.
Even after missing out on Alonso, Breslow ultimately followed through on his promise — though in a far less headline-grabbing way. On Sunday, the Red Sox acquired veteran designated hitter and first baseman Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for three prospects, highlighted by right-hander Hunter Dobbins, Boston’s No. 11 prospect according to Baseball America. Contreras, a 10-year MLB veteran with 172 career home runs, immediately reshapes Boston’s lineup — and could also signal the end of another high-priced hitter’s tenure in red and blue.
That player appears to be Masataka Yoshida. The 32-year-old outfielder and designated hitter is entering his fourth major league season after joining the Red Sox from Japan’s Orix Buffaloes ahead of the 2022 campaign. Boston paid a $15.4 million posting fee and committed to a five-year, $90 million contract to land Yoshida, totaling more than $105 million in overall investment.
To this point, Yoshida has struggled to live up to that price tag. Injuries have limited him to 303 games over three seasons, and while his offensive production has been serviceable, it has fallen short of expectations. He’s hit 29 home runs with a .762 career OPS — respectable numbers, but not what the Red Sox envisioned when they made the commitment.
The arrival of Contreras further complicates Yoshida’s role. Primarily used as a designated hitter, Yoshida has logged 194 games in that spot, while his defensive limitations — reflected in minus-4 career defensive runs saved — make him a poor fit in the outfield. With rookie standout Roman Anthony and Gold Glove winners Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu entrenched as Boston’s starting outfield, playing time for Yoshida appears scarce.
Fox Sports MLB columnist Deesha Thosar believes Yoshida is now the “odd man out” following the Contreras trade. In her analysis, Thosar suggested the move actually benefits first baseman Triston Casas, allowing Boston to ease him back from injury while sharing time between DH and first base with Contreras.
Yoshida, however, faces a much steeper climb. With Contreras and Casas absorbing most of the at-bats, and the outfield already crowded, Yoshida’s opportunities could be minimal. According to Thosar, the Red Sox may also struggle to find trade value for him, given his defensive shortcomings and status as a largely one-dimensional hitter coming off a down season.