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Any trade that specific is prettt unlikely. But if the Sox want to move Yoshida, a deal like that is probably one of the better options, which isn’t saying much. Yoshida is clearly deep in Cora’s doghouse. And he isn’t going to get any better until he gets out of it. Th is team has an MLB-high 15 players on the IL and is pushing out an infield that wouldn’t cut it in the League of Women Voters, yet Yoshida can’t get off the bench? And Dalbec gets to start? And this isn’t even about defense. The Sox have been trudging out weak pathetic defensive alignments for about 2 weeks now. It’s not like Cora has the 2021 Cardinals out there. Yoshida isn’t a good defender, but neither are Valdez, Hamilton, Dalbec, Reyes and Refsnyder. But they all get to start…

Cheaper than Yoshida. Better than Dalbec.

Does he not know how or does Cora never call him to? I'm not sure that is always Rafaela's decision. He's only made 2 bunt attempts n his brief career. But what does this also say about Duran?. He's even faster, and only has 3 bunt hits in his career (on 9 attempts). You'd think a slumping speedster like Duran might try more often...

The Sox would save money. Abreus is owed $39mill for 2024 and 25. Yoshida is owed $72mill through 2027. Again, if people want to deal Yoshida, this is probably around what the Sox could expect in return. Unless they want to pay the overwhelming bulk of his salary, and therefore miss out on any upside while paying someone else to experience it. Abreu is far from anyone worth targeting, but then, so is Yoshida right now. I mean, the Sox have 15 players on the IL and still aren't playing him. Not exactly a selling point...

Yeah that deal isn’t so much about getting Abreu. That’s actually the least important part of the trade. It’s more about unloading Yoshida. Abreu is probably the best you could get for him right now.

Why would acquiring relief pitchers Jansen and Martin push Ohtani off DH?

This should be an interesting defensive alignment…

The only reason Houston would even think about it is Yoshida looking more salvageable. But ultimately I suspect it’s more likely Abreu gets DFAd before this season ends…

Q: Who bats after Dalbec? A: The other team

So predictable after McGuire dropped the foul tip…

And the Sox are 4-5 in Hamilton starts. They're 0-3 if he comes into a game in which he is not starting, so Cora dodged that bullet today...

Once the pitcher gets past Abreu, the closest thing to an obstacle in the next 5 slots is Reese McGuire...

Not if you can get to that game!!

"But it's definitely not the pitch clock. It's related to velocity and arm angles, as they causing all the injuries. Those are the two factors we have identified. Also, the pitch clock. That's the real culprit."

Think the pitching-starved Angels might be hesitant to take that for the the only good starter they have produced since, well, who was their last one? Want to dump Yoshida? The Astros will probably take him for Jose Abreu. While Abreu is doing absolutely nothing offensively, his EV (87.2) isn't much different than Yoshida's (88.5). The big difference is Yoshida still hits a few line drives, while Abreu is straight up GB/FB. But both players have a similar AAV, and Abreu isonly signed through 2025 while Yoshida is signed through 2027 and then has one arbitration year (which doesn't mean much, as he could easily be non-tendered if he continues to flounder.). With this difference in AAV (Yoshida - $18, Abreu - $19.5), maybe Houston can add a couple million to balance it out. Trade does not work out at all on BTV, as Abreu's surplus value is -29 and Yoshida's is 3.3. Houston has clearly given up on Abreu and might be interested in this deal just to get away from him and clear a patch for James Loperfido at 1B. Yoshida has no clear spot in their lineup, either, but is the much more likely of the two to rebound, given their hitter profiles and recent performances. And the Sox get a struggling (washed up?) 1B one year removed from a 19 HR season. And hey, he is a step up over Dalbec, as the Sox upgrade from Dalbec's -47 wRC to Abreus's -37. Yoshida strikes me as a tough contract to move, but this is one scenario I can see interesting another team...

Standard interview non-answer. I would have been surprised if he gave anything else...

Not looking good long term MLB Pipeline ranks their system, as 20th with only 2 top 100 prospects. And can they get more, considering how they overvalue their MLB talent?

He probably wouldn't have faced any this year, but for a while there were no other options...

Way to bombard us with cliches. You’re such a paper tiger with feet of clay…

1. He’s already been more successful than I anticipated!! 2. Of course I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts. Why would anyone enjoy it after it crashed to a grinding halt?

Catch 22. We had to wait until they signed to see who got hurt…

I think not only velocity, but how early some pitchers start throwing hard. A 98-100mph fastball in high school isn’t necessary to get hitters out, but it can translate quickly into big money as either a signing bonus or a scholarship. That’s way too much of a temptation for some young pitchers…

Would you have preferred I said TikTok?

All the pre-season Cooper Criswell jokes look ill-informed right now…