Boston has signed Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida to a five-year, $90 million deal according to ESPN’s Jeff Pasan. The Red Sox will also be paying an additional $15.4 million to Yoshida’s Nippon Professional Baseball team, the Orix Buffaloes, for a posting fee.
Yoshida was a top name in this year’s free agency cycle after having excellent seasons playing professionally in Japan. In 2022, Yoshida posted incredible spilts of .336/.449/.559 with a 1.007 OPS. He hit 21 home runs, 89 RBIs, and struck out only 42 times in 417 plate appearances across 121 games.
Enjoy this 3 minute video of Masataka Yoshida absolutely demolishing baseballs.
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) December 7, 2022
He’s going to fit in tremendously at Fenway Park. Red Sox got a great one right here. pic.twitter.com/R9HrxzCS2N
The Red Sox desperately needed more out of their outfielders last season. Boston’s position group ranked 27th in WAR at 2.1 and 22nd in wOBA at .302. Injuries to Kiké Hernandez along with lackluster play from Jackie Bradley Jr. and Jarred Duran didn’t help the Sox’s offensive production. Yoshida will step on to the field as probably the best outfielder on the roster, hoping to inject a spark for Beantown baseball.
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