Red Sox Sign Masataka Yoshida

[Old Red]

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.

 

It was a BIG gamble, and a BIG overpay.

[Jasonbay44]

Yoshida just doesn’t really fit the rest of the team. This team has a lot of speed and athletic dudes, and in the outfielder they’re all good at fielding. Yoshida is slow, can’t defend and isn’t hitting well enough to warrant full time DH. He's been very disappointing

[Maxbialystock]

Yoshida just doesn’t really fit the rest of the team. This team has a lot of speed and athletic dudes, and in the outfielder they’re all good at fielding. Yoshida is slow, can’t defend and isn’t hitting well enough to warrant full time DH. He's been very disappointing

 

When Yoshida was signed, the Sox were losing both JDM and Bogey and Story had just played his first season (94 games) with the Sox. Story's WAR's in 2022, 2023, and 2024 were 2.5, .8, and .2. Yoshida's in 2023 and 2024 have been 1.4 and -0.2.

 

I would say both have been disappointing.

[Jasonbay44]

When Yoshida was signed, the Sox were losing both JDM and Bogey and Story had just played his first season (94 games) with the Sox. Story's WAR's in 2022, 2023, and 2024 were 2.5, .8, and .2. Yoshida's in 2023 and 2024 have been 1.4 and -0.2.

 

I would say both have been disappointing.

 

Story has definitely been disappointing as well.

[moonslav59]

Story has definitely been disappointing as well.

 

Indeed, the last three largest FA deals have seen major injuries and or underperformance, when healthy.

 

$140M/6 Story- 145 games out of 486 and just a .681 OPS

$90M/5 Yoshida (plus a $15.4M posting fee)- 173 games out of about 239 at .754

$38M/2 Giolito- No GS in year one.

 

We did do well with some mid-level deals like Jansen ($32M/2,) Martin ($17.5M/2,) and Turner (~$15M/1) but a few not so good- like all the $10M/1 deals: Kike II, Kluber & Richards. (The $18.8M/2 extension to Barnes was a bust.)

 

Bloom did much better with the $3-7M deals, like Wacha, Hill, Duvall, Strahm, Renfroe and Kike I at $14M/2 and Paxton at $10M/2.

 

[Dipre]

I still think Yoshida's contract can be a net positive, but I don't feel the same way about Story.

[moonslav59]

I still think Yoshida's contract can be a net positive, but I don't feel the same way about Story.

 

Story is running out of time, but I think he has a better chance at having a big plus year.

[sk7326]

Story is running out of time, but I think he has a better chance at having a big plus year.

 

Right. Like Story is made of glass, but an actual good player. Yoshida at this point just doesn't do anything all that well.

[notin]

Right. Like Story is made of glass, but an actual good player. Yoshida at this point just doesn't do anything all that well.

 

At some point, I do agree that the best ability is availability. Yoshida is here and can, like many members of the team this season already have, surprise us...

[mvp 78]

Story is running out of time, but I think he has a better chance at having a big plus year.

 

It would take a big offensive reversal for Story to have a big year. It COULD happen. Sox would just have to trade him first.

[moonslav59]

It would take a big offensive reversal for Story to have a big year. It COULD happen. Sox would just have to trade him first.

 

Just a better chance than Yoshida, IMO- not saying I expect it.

[mvp 78]

Just a better chance than Yoshida, IMO- not saying I expect it.

 

Have you seen Story's slugging the past two seasons?

[moonslav59]

Have you seen Story's slugging the past two seasons?

 

Yes, in sporadic sample sizes, usually coming right off rehab.

 

I’ve also seen Yoshi’s SLG.

 

Thinking someone has a better shot that Yoshi is NOT high praise.

[MADSTORK]

Betts 30.4

 

Story 22.4 Yoshida DH 18.6 = 41

 

Priceless!!!

[mvp 78]

I'm sorry everyone. It's my fault.

[notin]

Betts 30.4

 

Story 22.4 Yoshida DH 18.6 = 41

 

Priceless!!!

 

So ironic you call that Priceless, as it shows you forgot one of the other very expensive names in that trade…

[moonslav59]

So ironic you call that Priceless, as it shows you forgot one of the other very expensive names in that trade…

 

Which was very pricey!

[moonslav59]

A rare red-nosed stork sighting during a hot streak.

 

Must be global warming changing the migratory patterns.

[Hugh2]

Did you guys know that facts are indisputable.

[moonslav59]

Did you guys know that facts are indisputable.

 

Someone will dispute this.

[Bellhorn04]

He just may have arrived.

[Old Red]

He just may have arrived.

 

He’s certainly had some big hits, and been more GOshida than NOshida lately.

[moonslav59]

He just may have arrived.

 

This is huge, from you!

 

(I hope you didn't jinx him.... LOL )

[sk7326]

He’s certainly had some big hits, and been more GOshida than NOshida lately.

 

He is a bad contract ... but up to .353 OBP, so the one thing he does bring to the table is coming around

[mvp 78]

Masa:

 

926 OPS since June 24

[moonslav59]

He is a bad contract ... but up to .353 OBP, so the one thing he does bring to the table is coming around

 

If he can finish out his term at .350, it will be a decent contract. Not great and not really even good for a DH-only signing, but not bad.

[Maxbialystock]

Masa:

 

926 OPS since June 24

 

And I was the only one on talksox to provide 5 reasons why he should play. I was not predicting the future by any means, but at least I and I alone saw a glimmer of hope.

 

He sure ain't no JDM or Big Papi and it's fair to say he is probably overpaid, but right now he's pretty useful.

[moonslav59]

And I was the only one on talksox to provide 5 reasons why he should play. I was not predicting the future by any means, but at least I and I alone saw a glimmer of hope.

 

He sure ain't no JDM or Big Papi and it's fair to say he is probably overpaid, but right now he's pretty useful.

 

I still think a Ref-Valdez platoon is better, but who wastes two roster spots on DHs?

 

I'm happy Yoshida is doing well.

[Maxbialystock]

I still think a Ref-Valdez platoon is better, but who wastes two roster spots on DHs?

 

I'm happy Yoshida is doing well.

 

Ref is nice righty bat to have around, plus he's an adequate outfielder. Valdez has no reasonable role for the Sox. And the Sox are paying Yoshida $90M for 5 years, and this is his second year.

[moonslav59]

Ref is nice righty bat to have around, plus he's an adequate outfielder. Valdez has no reasonable role for the Sox. And the Sox are paying Yoshida $90M for 5 years, and this is his second year.

 

Yes, I've mentioned it being a waste to have a platoon DH and take up two roster spots, but consider this: Yoshida does not play OF, anymore, and he's worse than Ref in the OF. EValdez is likely just as bad at 2B as Yoshida is in LF, but 2B gets more chances to be exposed. I guess EValdez can play LF about as badly as Yoshida, so if we replaced Yoshide with Valdez, not much changes, except Ref DHs vs LHPs and not corner OF. That means we need another RHB for 25, like maybe O'Neill extended.

 

Either way, Yoshida isn't going anywhere, so Valdez should. He won't bring back much, but he does have an excellent bat vs RHPs.