The Boston Red Sox have struggled this offseason to shield their star players from trade rumors.
Names like Wilyer Abreu, Triston Casas, and Masataka Yoshida have all surfaced in trade speculation, as the Red Sox appear eager to leverage their surplus of left-handed bats. According to a report by MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the team even explored packaging Yoshida’s contract with Casas in a potential trade with the Seattle Mariners.
While the Red Sox are focused on improving the roster, players involved in such rumors are undoubtedly aware of the discussions. Yoshida addressed the speculation during this weekend’s “Fenway Fest” at Fenway Park.
“I kind of kept (the rumors) muted, so I wasn’t really paying attention,” Yoshida joked through an interpreter. “I did notice them, but it’s out of my control, so we’ll see what happens.”
Yoshida also shared his determination to improve in 2025, striving to live up to the five-year, $90 million contract he signed with Boston.
“Obviously, I haven’t met fans’ expectations yet,” he admitted. “The stats and results I had in Japan haven’t translated here as much as I’d hoped. I want to meet those expectations and continue improving.”
Over two seasons with Boston, Yoshida has posted a solid .285/.343/.433 slash line with a 111 OPS+. However, his limited power (25 career home runs) and a 2024 campaign spent mostly as a designated hitter have made him somewhat expendable unless his offensive production improves.
As Yoshida recovers from offseason labrum surgery, he awaits clarity on his future. If he remains with the Red Sox in 2025, the season will serve as a pivotal opportunity to justify the team’s investment and silence the doubts surrounding his place in Boston.
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