Red Sox Sign OF Masataka Yoshida

Hey Raffy, look at all the potential RBI’s 👀

This is a little odd:
"His defense grades out as about average in the corners"
www.pinstripealley.com/2022/11/14/23456350/yankees-mlb-free-agency-yoshida-npb-japan-outfielder-benintendi-happ-judge-bader

I am curious to see what Beni ends up getting… and if Yoshida is much better than him. He better out-hit him, cause it doesn’t sound like he’s going to out D him.

Bloom is definitely betting that he's going to be better than a 55 hit, and I'm cautiously optimistic on that front as well.

You're also paying for his 29-34 years, which is a solid window.

I hate strikeouts so I really hope his hitting skill is good enough to transfer to MLB. Shame he cannot run. There is a lot of pressure on the bat because from looking at the reports that is his only skill.

The more I read the more enthusiastic I get

I see that, and I hope so. He could be fun.

Obviously if X goes elsewhere then there's a problem.

But for today, up to this point, the Red Sox have hopefully resolved 2 issues that have been nagging at them for a few years.

For all the hand wringing of Kimbrel and his occasional high wire acts, when he was the close you knew he was the closer and they could fill in behind him. Then they went through a lot of instability in the closer role. Workman and Barnes had their moments but neither could continue to hold the closer job and they've struggled in the 9th innings which has led to a lot of demoralizing losses.

While I wasn't exactly hoping for Jansen, there is no question who the closer is for the Red Sox. Hopefully they can squeeze a couple of good years out of him and the pressure comes off the rest of the pen and they can perform well in a more established hierarchy and it'll make things easier on Cora.

The Sox have struggled mightily in the leadoff spot since Mookie left. While Yoshida is no 30-30 threat, if that hit tool translates, he could challenge for a batting title and with his BB/K skills he could be an OBP guy who gets on base in the upper .300s if not higher. And perhaps he'll hang on to some of his pop.

The lack of legit leadoff guys has been glaring since Mookie's departure.

There is a ton of risk in signing Jansen and Yoshida and it could blow up in their faces, but I am happy to see them really try to tackle two glaring issues that have plagued them for the past few seasons, with their acquisition of a possible HOF closer (if he continues to pitch well which is debatable but not out of the question) and perhaps the best pure hitter from Japan since Ichiro.

I'm glad that they spent their money and particularly in Yoshida's case, how aggressive and decisive they were about Yoshida. He was posted and then like 5 minutes later he's a Red Sox.

For today up to this point, it's been a pretty damn good day.

Hopefully the Sox make it a hat trick today and get Xander signed and then very soon close the gap and work on getting Devers extended - it'll take about 300 million.


Those are two very good developments in a real (non patchwork) way of trying to resolve their issues. They need another outfielder, preferably a RH bat with power, at least one impact starter, and maybe a catcher or another LH reliever. Hopefully they tackle these issues.

Adam Jones played with him in Japan:

Jones, an All-Star with the Orioles told The Athletic, Yoshida was ready.

“He can hit the ball to all fields, all speeds,” Jones said. “Like Juan Soto, he hits everything — and walks; he doesn’t swing out of the zone.”

I wonder if they are still in on Senga?

small strike zone equals few strike outs…… wow, it works, struck out half the number of walks……it must be ok to be short….lol

My guess is they're trying but they have a ton of competition.

Eovaldi has the QO weighing against him which might be slowing his market. If the Sox don't get Senga then perhaps they circle back to Eovaldi.

I wanted both Senga and Eovaldi but I don't think they have the money for both so I guess it's one or the other?

If neither of them sign, then maybe they're aiming lower. Like hoping Syndergaard's gets his velocity back or finally getting Kluber. Maybe even bringing back Wacha?

I guess if they bring in 2 starters, Rich Hill will be the other starter. Or maybe he winds up in the bullpen?