Red Sox Sign Masataka Yoshida

[Old Red]

But to go large and long for an untested guy like Senga may not be the best bet. I think the Sox should do a short term deal with Kluber and trade for a front of the rotation starter. Not sure what better options there were this offseason.

 

I’m all for any kind of help when it comes to pitching, and if it takes a trade that’s fine too.

[moonslav59]

I’m all for any kind of help when it comes to pitching, and if it takes a trade that’s fine too.

 

Agree, but we need to look for controllable, young pitchers.

 

To get a real good one, we have to give something back.

 

Mayer: we need a SS of the future, too badly to move him, at this point. (Romero will not be ready, soon enough.)

 

Casas: we need a 1Bman into the future, too.

 

Rafaela: we need a RF'er now and a CF, next year. We love OF defense, so I don't think he goes. (Bleis is far away.)

 

Yorke, Mata, Romero, Anthony, Paulino, Walter and a few others are good, but they won't us a young ace, even if we offer 4-5 of them.

 

To me, our best bet might be to use some our budget space to take on a salary dump thrown in with the trade for a solid SP'er, even if not an ace. I mentioned Lopez and A Garcia from the Marlins, but Lopez has just 2 years left, and is not an ace. They have some other young pitchers with 4+ years of control, but ROgers is iffy and Luxardo is risky, too.

 

I don't see any "underwater" pitchers worth hoping for a turnaround.

 

-33 Bumgarner

-15 ERod

-11 Stroman

-9 Jon Gray

 

It won't be easy. The Luis Castillo deal and extension was something that looked good, to me, but what would we have had to give up for him?

 

[harmony]

Red Sox beat reporter Jen McCaffrey at The Athletic detailed the team's four-year pursuit of Masataka Yoshida:

 

https://theathletic.com/4029222/2022/12/24/red-sox-pursuit-masataka-yoshida/

Subscription required.

 

A Red Sox scout assessed Yoshida's left field defense from the scout's perch atop a Ferris wheel just outside a Japanese stadium.

 

An excerpt on Yoshida's skills:

That power, coupled with an extremely patient approach, reminded the Red Sox of what Kyle Schwarber provided the Red Sox lineup at the end of the 2021 season. They viewed Yoshida as a bat that could change the complexion of the lineup given the propensity for swing-and-miss across the majors the last few seasons. The Red Sox were tied for the fifth-highest chase rate in the majors last season at 30.5 percent. Yoshida possessed an expert command of the strike zone and elite hand-eye coordination. He rarely chased pitches, as evidenced by 42 strikeouts in 515 plate appearances last year.

[moonslav59]

Red Sox beat reporter Jen McCaffrey at The Athletic detailed the team's four-year pursuit of Masataka Yoshida:

 

https://theathletic.com/4029222/2022/12/24/red-sox-pursuit-masataka-yoshida/

Subscription required.

 

A Red Sox scout assessed Yoshida's left field defense from the scout's perch atop a Ferris wheel just outside a Japanese stadium.

 

An excerpt on Yoshida's skills:

 

They've really liked this guy for a long time.

 

Can you give a summary on what they said about his D?

[harmony]

They've really liked this guy for a long time.

 

Can you give a summary on what they said about his D?

Another excerpt:

The Red Sox knew he was a below-average defender, but they wondered if there were elements of his game they could help him improve with dedicated coaching. The brief clip showed the scouts a better view of Yoshida’s pre-pitch routine, jumps and first-step efficiency and helped Meyer project how much better Yoshida could get with some work. Japanese outfielders don’t have to show their arm strength as much because infielders go out much deeper on relay plays.

[Bellhorn04]

Another excerpt:

 

And as we know, the Red Sox having an exemplary recent history of making substandard outfielders better fielders.

[moonslav59]

Another excerpt:

 

Thanks.

 

Playing half is games in Fenway may help hide his substandard D, and maybe he plays some DH on the road, especially in stadiums with large left fields.

[moonslav59]

And as we know, the Red Sox having an exemplary recent history of making substandard outfielders better fielders.

 

That's because they were coaching Renfroe, Duran and Dugo in Japanese!

 

[Bellhorn04]

That's because they were coaching Renfroe, Duran and Dugo in Japanese!

 

 

How can anyone doubt our coaching expertise after what we've done with those guys?

[notin]

How can anyone doubt our coaching expertise after what we've done with those guys?

 

 

There is some selectivity when it comes to the Sox repeating mistakes.

 

The team has struggled with injuries, so they should never acquire a player with injury history.

 

The Sox have had bad outfield defenders, so clearly the coaches can’t save anyone and the Sox need to avoid these defensive question marks.

 

The Sox have been burned by long, large contracts. But hey, if you fall off that horse…

[mvp 78]

If his bat is good enough, I don't care about his bad d in LF.

[moonslav59]

If his bat is good enough, I don't care about his bad d in LF.

 

If he ends up at DH, he's cheaper than JD was, even without adjusting for inflation.

[mvp 78]

If he ends up at DH, he's cheaper than JD was, even without adjusting for inflation.

 

That would be after Justin Turner is no longer on the team.

[moonslav59]

That would be after Justin Turner is no longer on the team.

 

Or, Devers or Casas.

[Bellhorn04]

Or, Devers or Casas.

 

Casas...what?

[Old Red]

Casas...what?

 

Casas isn’t going anywhere, and foolish to speculate he is anytime soon.

[mvp 78]

Or, Devers or Casas.

 

Why would they move Devers or Casas to DH? Turner isn't a good enough defensive 3b to mess with Devers and barely has more 1b innings than Casas.

[mvp 78]

Casas isn’t going anywhere, and foolish to speculate he is anytime soon.

 

A fool and his post are soon quoted. That is the immutable rule of TalkSox.

[moonslav59]

Why would they move Devers or Casas to DH? Turner isn't a good enough defensive 3b to mess with Devers and barely has more 1b innings than Casas.

 

I did not say move Yoshida to DH in 2023. I specifically said, "If he ends up at DH," which implies in the future.

 

Devers may be gone in 2024, or even soon or at the deadline.

 

I do not think they trade Casas, but if they did, Turner could play 1B while Yoshida DHs. If we want to trade for an ace- NEWSFLASH- we'd need to actually give up a good young player or prospect to get one.

[mvp 78]

I did not say move Yoshida to DH in 2023. I specifically said, "If he ends up at DH," which implies in the future.

 

Devers may be gone in 2024, or even soon or at the deadline.

 

I do not think they trade Casas, but if they did, Turner could play 1B while Yoshida DHs. If we want to trade for an ace- NEWSFLASH- we'd need to actually give up a good young player or prospect to get one.

 

NEWSFLASH, you aren't getting an ace for Casas AND they don't have a long term SS plan aside from Mayer. I don't see them trading for an ace anytime soon.

[moonslav59]

NEWSFLASH, you aren't getting an ace for Casas AND they don't have a long term SS plan aside from Mayer. I don't see them trading for an ace anytime soon.

 

True, but Casas plus others, maybe, and a solid #2 would not be bad, either.

 

I don't see us trading Casas. I just mentioned the idea as a way to find a position for Turner. There is also a chance Casas falls flat on his face and Turner could end up platooning at 1B and playing some DH, too.

[mvp 78]

True, but Casas plus others, maybe, and a solid #2 would not be bad, either.

 

I don't see us trading Casas. I just mentioned the idea as a way to find a position for Turner. There is also a chance Casas falls flat on his face and Turner could end up platooning at 1B and playing some DH, too.

 

Turner was signed to be the DH plus backup 3B/1B. I think if are now looking to "find a position for Turner" they should just pack in the season.

[moonslav59]

Turner was signed to be the DH plus backup 3B/1B. I think if are now looking to "find a position for Turner" they should just pack in the season.

 

It was a hypothetical point. Yoshida "may end up at DH" in 2 years, after Turner goes, of 1 year (or less) if Devers goes. Forget I even mentioned Casas.

[mvp 78]

It was a hypothetical point. Yoshida "may end up at DH" in 2 years, after Turner goes, of 1 year (or less) if Devers goes. Forget I even mentioned Casas.

 

After Justin Turner is no longer DH for this team, Yoshida can play there IF they have someone to fill in at LF. They have trouble finding OFers for some reason.

[moonslav59]

After Justin Turner is no longer DH for this team, Yoshida can play there IF they have someone to fill in at LF. They have trouble finding OFers for some reason.

 

No, our trouble is finding OF'ers who can play anywhere but LF.

 

Maybe they are placing too much hope in Rafaela.

[mvp 78]

As of today:

140 wRC+

381 OBP top 14 percentile xOBP

888 OPS

9.7 BB%

9.7 K% top 3 percentile

 

Even adding in his early adjustments, he's been good at baseball.

[Hugh2]

I think it’s a bigger gamble than it is a upside, and like I said yesterday Suzuki didn’t set the league on fire last year by any means.

 

Still think it was a bad gamble?

[Old Red]

Still think it was a bad gamble?

 

More GOshida than NOshida, so I’ve come around a little.

[moonslav59]

Still think it was a bad gamble?

 

Isn't every signing and trade a gamble?

 

Look at Rodon and others that signed for huge money.

[Hugh2]

More GOshida than NOshida, so I’ve come around a little.

 

That's fair. It's nice to have you aboard the GOshida train.