Red Sox Sign Masataka Yoshida

[moonslav59]

Also, Matsui was a great ballplayer. I don't think Yoshida is close to that level.

 

True about any new player to the league. Matsui was special. He started with the Yanks at age 29. He had just come off 4 straight 1.000 plus seasons in Japan and a .996 career OPS in Japan.

 

Yoshida will be 29 to start the season and has a .957 career OPS in Japan.

 

Last 5 seasons:

 

.956 in '18

.956

.966

.983

1.007 in '22

 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Even if we add no more OF'ers, every OF position looks to greatly improve on offense while the corner positions get worse on D.

 

LF: Yoshida

 

CF: Kike (150+ games?)

 

RF: Dugo/Refsnyder (platoon?)

 

Last year, every OF position had an OPS under .695 and 90 OPS+.

 

Overall, it was .676. (86 OPS+)

 

Man, gotta give you credit for optimism. And I don't just mean for a guy like Yoshida who's never played a game in the majors. It's reasonable to expect/demand improvement from Verdugo, but that's a lot of hope for more career years from Kike and Ref, both in their 30s, to either bounce back from injury and revert to 2021 form or to show last year's sample size was the real deal.

 

Outfield is the most likely area for an upgrade in a trade, if someone somehow will deal a young up-and-comer... and Bloom will swap an actual decent prospect.

[moonslav59]

Man, gotta give you credit for optimism. And I don't just mean for a guy like Yoshida who's never played a game in the majors. It's reasonable to expect/demand improvement from Verdugo, but that's a lot of hope for more career years from Kike and Ref, both in their 30s, to either bounce back from injury and revert to 2021 form or to show last year's sample size was the real deal.

 

Outfield is the most likely area for an upgrade in a trade, if someone somehow will deal a young up-and-comer... and Bloom will swap an actual decent prospect.

 

You aren't optimistic Yoshida will be better than JBJ, Duran and Cordero were in the OF, last year?

 

You aren't thinking Kike will play more and do better in '22 than '21? (He doesn't have to repeat 2021 offensive numbers to be a big improvement.)

 

I've said the D will be worse on the corner, but the O should be better across the boards, assuming normal health.

 

I think we sign Conforto or Gallo and trade Dugo. I'm not sure that's an improvement on offense.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

You aren't optimistic Yoshida will be better than JBJ, Duran and Cordero were in the OF, last year?

 

You aren't thinking Kike will play more and do better in '22 than '21? (He doesn't have to repeat 2021 offensive numbers to be a big improvement.)

 

I've said the D will be worse on the corner, but the O should be better across the boards, assuming normal health.

 

I think we sign Conforto or Gallo and trade Dugo. I'm not sure that's an improvement on offense.

 

I'm looking forward to watching Yoshida because he profiles as my type of hitter -- someone who doesn't try to kill the ball on every swing, no matter the count.

 

I'm just not super confident that Verdugo, a healthy Kike and more PT for Ref will greatly improve the outfield offense.

 

It may be too much to wish for adding a good young outfielder from a team like Arizona in a deal, but I'd even settle for an upgrade like Pollock or Grichuk at this point.

[moonslav59]

I'm looking forward to watching Yoshida because he profiles as my type of hitter -- someone who doesn't try to kill the ball on every swing, no matter the count.

 

I'm just not super confident that Verdugo, a healthy Kike and more PT for Ref will greatly improve the outfield offense.

 

It may be too much to wish for adding a good young outfielder from a team like Arizona in a deal, but I'd even settle for an upgrade like Pollock or Grichuk at this point.

 

Dugo and Ref have .800+ OPS on their splits since 2020, combined. How can even .750 from them not top JBJ's (Duran & Cordero's) offense?

 

I'm not super confident either in projecting healthy, but I do think the odds are, we get more from Kike than 2021.

[dgalehouse]

Yoshida might become the table setting leadoff hitter the Sox have been lacking, but that remains to be seen. Last season, the Sox outfield was one of the least productive in my memory as a long time Sox fan. Any improvement is welcome.

[moonslav59]

Yoshida might become the table setting leadoff hitter the Sox have been lacking, but that remains to be seen. Last season, the Sox outfield was one of the least productive in my memory as a long time Sox fan. Any improvement is welcome.

 

I can't see it being the same or worse with the addition of Yoshida, likely more playing time from Kike and none or less time from JBJ, Duran and Cordero.

 

OF Innings in 2022

1300 Dugo

700 JBJ

670 Kike

460 Duran

420 Pham

300 Refsnyder

210 Cordero

110 Almonte + Ja Davis

 

PA/OPS

LF

420 Dugo .677

225 Pham .681

40 Almonte .760

CF

340 Kike .647

195 Duran .679

65 JBJ .466

55 Ref .966

RF

220 JBK .620

220 Dugo .839

80 Refsnyder .677

50 Arroyo .444

50 Cordero .341

20 Duran .435

RF

 

[Old Red]

According to Peter Abraham Yoshida was signed a couple hours after he was posted, which has Never happened before with a Japanese player, and that the Red Sox were way above all the other teams, and that’s why Boris jumped so quick at the offer, because he knew he wasn’t going to get a better one. The Red Sox over payed for someone unproven, and we’re going to underpay for Bogey for all that he had Accomplished for the Red Sox.

[Bellhorn04]

According to Peter Abraham Yoshida was signed a couple hours after he was posted, which has Never happened before with a Japanese player, and that the Red Sox were way above all the other teams, and that’s why Boris jumped so quick at the offer, because he knew he wasn’t going to get a better one. The Red Sox over payed for someone unproven, and we’re going to underpay for Bogey for all that he had Accomplished for the Red Sox.

 

I can't really knock the Red Sox for being aggressive on Yoshida, for being aggressive on anything these days.

 

Bogey is a separate issue, and I've been excoriating them for it.

[Old Red]

I can't really knock the Red Sox for being aggressive on Yoshida, for being aggressive on anything these days.

 

Bogey is a separate issue, and I've been excoriating them for it.

Would rather the Sox been aggressive on the pitcher instead of the OF if they were going to take a dip in the Japanese waters.

[moonslav59]

According to Peter Abraham Yoshida was signed a couple hours after he was posted, which has Never happened before with a Japanese player, and that the Red Sox were way above all the other teams, and that’s why Boris jumped so quick at the offer, because he knew he wasn’t going to get a better one. The Red Sox over payed for someone unproven, and we’re going to underpay for Bogey for all that he had Accomplished for the Red Sox.

 

You keep believing reporters.

 

This may be true, but I'm never sure.

 

Maybe they overpaid him by a little or a lot. If he produces, it may not matter much.

[moonslav59]

Would rather the Sox been aggressive on the pitcher instead of the OF if they were going to take a dip in the Japanese waters.

 

Yoshida over most of the FA pitchers on this year's sad SP'er market, yes, indeed.

 

The ones I liked cost way more than $105M.

 

We need to get a SP'er via trade, but I'm not sure that's in the works.

[Old Red]

I believe Peter Abraham yes I do, and it’s a fact when the offers started, and when the contract was agreed to, which was at warp speed especially when dealing with Boris.

[Hugh2]

I can't really knock the Red Sox for being aggressive on Yoshida, for being aggressive on anything these days.

 

Bogey is a separate issue, and I've been excoriating them for it.

 

how can we simultaneously criticize the Sox for being too cheap and then spending too much on a guy at the same time? that's.....stupid.

[Old Red]

Being cheap on homegrown future HOF stars is stupid. Spending $100M+ on a unproven Major League player is also stupid. It’s easy to do if you want to see it.

[mvp 78]

Signing Yoshida doesn't prevent the Sox from signing anyone else. Why be focused on that move like it has impacted anything?

[moonslav59]

Being cheap on homegrown future HOF stars is stupid. Spending $100M+ on a unproven Major League player is also stupid. It’s easy to do if you want to see it.

 

Signing players who are 30 years old to long term deals is usually what is "stupid," but I guess it's hard to imagine there even being a chance our guys ever decline as they age.

 

Maybe the idea of signing guys for 3-6 years at $80-140M is the "new plan." It's hard to know, just yet, if it's any better than spending more on fewer players and counting on your farm to fill the gaps.

[moonslav59]

Signing Yoshida doesn't prevent the Sox from signing anyone else. Why be focused on that move like it has impacted anything?

 

Yes, we could have signed Correa and not added pitching, unless by trade.

 

We can still sign Rodon.

 

We cans till sign Swanson & Kluber.

 

We won't, but it's not because of Yoshida and his contract.

 

It seems like some just want to expect the worst in everything.

[Hugh2]

Being cheap on homegrown future HOF stars is stupid. Spending $100M+ on a unproven Major League player is also stupid. It’s easy to do if you want to see it.

 

And you're a professional scout who knows so much about Yoshida? You're right on the first 1/2 of your statement. This team has done a s*** poor job of holding onto its talent. But you fall flat from having a coherent opinion in the second half. If Yoshida is as good as they hope he is, he's worth every penny. Maybe more.

[Hugh2]

I wanna see REDS scouting notes on Yoshida.

[Old Red]

I would want to see the scouting notes of all major league teams myself, and why they all offered less money than the Red Sox. Maybe the Bloomer thought this would appease some fans for watching Bogey walk out the door.

[moonslav59]

And you're a professional scout who knows so much about Yoshida? You're right on the first 1/2 of your statement. This team has done a s*** poor job of holding onto its talent. But you fall flat from having a coherent opinion in the second half. If Yoshida is as good as they hope he is, he's worth every penny. Maybe more.

 

Until recently, the Sox have done a pretty good job knowing just when to let go of some of their best talent. We are not really sure about how Betts and Bogey will finish out their contracts. We saw what Lester did (ouck!) We saw what Beni did (not so ouch.)

 

I can list over a dozen players we let go who did not do great things afterwards, starting with Pedro, AGon and Beckett. We missed on keeping Sale instead of Betts.

 

[Hugh2]

I would want to see the scouting notes of all major league teams myself, and why they all offered less money than the Red Sox. Maybe the Bloomer thought this would appease some fans for watching Bogey walk out the door.

 

The team who offers the most money is the team who gets the FA 95% of the time, isn't this what we want....the Sox to win a bid and get a guy who improves the team?

 

If they signed any of the big free agents this year it would have been because they offered more than every other team. This is how it works.

[Hugh2]

Until recently, the Sox have done a pretty good job knowing just when to let go of some of their best talent. We are not really sure about how Betts and Bogey will finish out their contracts. We saw what Lester did (ouck!) We saw what Beni did (not so ouch.)

 

I can list over a dozen players we let go who did not do great things afterwards, starting with Pedro, AGon and Beckett. We missed on keeping Sale instead of Betts.

 

 

I mean to be fair, it's still too early to judge now. Betts is probably the guy who breaks that streak, but if he starts to seriously decline.......then not so.

[Hugh2]

SOX DON'T SIGN ANYONE AHHHHH

 

sox sign someone

 

YEAH BUT...LIKE....WHY DID THEY SPEND MONEY MORE THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

 

Ummmm...because that's exactly how free agency works?

[mvp 78]

I would want to see the scouting notes of all major league teams myself, and why they all offered less money than the Red Sox. Maybe the Bloomer thought this would appease some fans for watching Bogey walk out the door.

 

Sox have a history of going with guys who they value more highly than other teams: Yorke, Romero, Yoshida... I think that's just how this team works right now.

[Old Red]

Once again I would want to see the scouting reports from all the other ML teams.

[mvp 78]

Once again I would want to see the scouting reports from all the other ML teams.

 

Wow, seems like a reasonable request!

[dgalehouse]

It seems to me that Bloom has a small , but very vociferous following. Almost cult like in their loyalty. They refuse to see what so many others see. They will blame anyone and anything else for the problems and failures. And they will get pretty angry with those who see things differently. I think they need to lighten up. Try the decaf. Skip the kool aid.

[Hugh2]

Once again I would want to see the scouting reports from all the other ML teams.

 

What we do know is he is widely viewed as having an elite hit tool. He's going to put the bat on the ball and not strike out a lot. You can do some research and read what everyone has written about him. That seems to be the one constant across the board for Yoshida.