The Red Sox announced today that they have reinstated outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida from the 60-day injured list. To open an active roster spot, infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester. Right-hander Nick Burdi was transferred to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man spot.
Yoshida will be making his season debut in today’s game, serving as the designated hitter and batting sixth. He underwent shoulder surgery in October of last year and has been on the injured list until today. He was healthy enough to hit a long time ago but struggled to get his shoulder to a place where he could throw at full strength. That made him unable to play the field and essentially unrosterable. The Sox signed Alex Bregman in the winter and put him at third base, bumping Rafael Devers into the designated hitter spot on an everyday basis.
Much has changed since then. The DH move upset Devers and he was further rankled when Triston Casas got injured and the Sox asked him to learn first base. The relationship soured enough that the Sox flipped him to the Giants in a stunning deal.
That opened the DH spot, and Yoshida is now capable of playing the field, but the Sox still have quite a glut in the outfield. Today, Yoshida is in the DH spot with Roman Anthony in left, Jarren Duran in center and Wilyer Abreu in right. That leaves Ceddanne Rafaela on the bench, in addition to Rob Refsnyder. Yoshida has done some first base drills but isn’t considered much more than an emergency option there.
For now, manager Álex Cora will seemingly take turns benching guys from that mix, with Rafaela getting the first taste of that. Perhaps that can work for the short term but it’s an inelegant mix for the long term. Due to this cluster, there have been plenty of trade rumors surrounding players like Yoshida, Duran and Abreu, as observers speculate about the possibility of the Sox flipping one of them for some pitching.
Duran and Abreu are both strong players in their 20s, with Duran having three years of club control after this one and Abreu four. Yoshida, almost 32 years old, is seemingly less a key piece of the club’s future but his trade value wouldn’t be terribly high at the moment. He is making $18MM annually through the 2027 season. In his major league career, he’s been a poor fielder while his offense has been decent but not astounding. He currently sports a .285/.343/.433 batting line and 113 wRC+. As mentioned, he’s been on the IL all year until today.
Put it all together and it’s a tricky calculus for the Sox. Moving Yoshida is likely preferable for the long term but he would bring back less in a trade than some of their other players. With just a few weeks until the trade deadline, perhaps they will field some interesting calls from other clubs.
As for Burdi, he landed on the 15-day IL in early June due to a right foot contusion. He started a minor league rehab assignment a few weeks ago but only made two appearances. That was due to a hip issue, according to Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald. Injuries have been a persistent problem for Burdi. He has appeared in six different major league seasons, debuting back in 2018, but he has just 30 1/3 big league innings under his belt.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images
Nick Burdi needs to hang it up. He had potential, but I haven’t seen a player get hurt as often as him. Not even Buxton.
He’s cashing a major league check while injured. Pretty good work. I’d be in no rush to give that up if someone’s still giving it to me.
I would walk away from my dreams too! Not.
Aside from a Borat scene, I don’t think I’ve heard a “Not” joke in 25 years. I admire your persistence.
You should hang it up.
Senzatela on the mound for COL… Yoshi at DH, Duran, Rafaela and who in right? Anthony you would think, but Abreu has been out the past two games.
Ugh, now Cora has more responsibilities. Not good.
More DH-only type of players. Might as well just get rid of fielders and have a HR derby every night. Those geeks and casual fans will be happy. They can go home after an hour and half, giving them enough time to post on their social media accounts the rest of the night.
You can thank Bloom in his infinite wisdom for this particular one. We’re stuck with him for a couple more years, so it’s the hand we’ve gotta play.
I like Yoshida, but he’s way overpaid. I don’t understand why they don’t just eat some of his salary and move him. All sorts of teams would want Yoshida if he were making short money, but not at 18M per.
Yoshida would be great in the Mariners lineup. Not sure of the trade package though, given all the money he has due on his contract.
They can easily trade him if they pay down some of the deal.
Not sure why they’re so against that. They have a ton of LHB, a ton of better OF, so there’s no room for him. He’s just going to eat up a roster spot and take away ABs from better players.
Like tonight, with Rafaela sitting.
It very well could be the next three weeks are a showcase for Yoshida, Abreu and Duran. One is likely to be moved barring an injury. Many were complaining about the Rafaela contract. It’s looking better and better. Him being right handed is not going anywhere but if someone makes a good offer on one of the lefties, a deal seems likely (again barring an injury).
Dewey…. You nailed it
York this seems to bother you an unusual amount
York that’s not going to fly. Nobody would come watch that tomfoolery. Now do have an actual feasible plan you could present, or is it just mumbo-jumbo time??
Masataka Yoshida – otherwise known as Jesus Christ Himself – walked out of Polar Park and led the Red Sox into the postseason. At least that’s what the Red Sox want you to believe that’s what’ll happen.
Ummm… okbud
No one on the Red Sox is even slightly inferring that you oddball..
He’s playing because he can hit decently well, and he has an unmoveable contract,
With Bregman on the cusp of returning, the lineup is about to get interesting. I expect this will bump Hamilton off the roster (which i understand but I love his speed). I assume the starting lineup will then be:
C- Narvaez
1B- Toro/Gonzalez
2B- Mayer
SS- Story
3B- Bregman
LF- Yoshida
CF- Duran
RF- Abreu
DH – Anthony
Bench- Wong, Toro/Gonzalez, Rafaela (super utility starting a lot), and Refsnyder
But Yoshida’s bat has to be doing damage for this to work, because this is a step backwards defensively. If he can build up any value, the Sox should try to move him. But I can see Abreu being the odd man out eventually, and going with Duran in LF, Rafaela in CF, Anthony in RF, and Yoshida as the DH.
Could the Sox also decide to move Bregman and then have Mayer at 3B and Rafaela at 2B? Not sure that’s the right move either.
It’s a blessing having a glut of talent in the outfield, but you gotta make the right choice in who stays and who goes.
I would also add, I think moving Yoshida is the right move, even if it means getting less back. Especially if someone is willing to take a chunk of that contract. I think giving every day at bats to the young talent on this team, is the right move long term (and probably even presently).
I think it’s much more likely that Anthony is in LF (like he supposedly will be tonight) and Yoshida is the DH.
Yep.Also, Rafaela is playing every day, most likely in center where he has much more value defensively. One option no one is mentioning is Meyer at short and Story taking second. His defense is so underappreciated and now his bat is again coming to live. He in my view is their MVP with respect to position players. It depends in my view on which position Mayer is better at. Finally, does Hamilton have an option left? I only trade him if something special comes back. To me, he’s automatically the 26th player for the playoffs should the team get there.
Hamilton has 2 options left I believe. Honestly, I would much rather see what you’re saying, and I believe it’s the right move. I just don’t think they’ll move Story off of SS. I think your assessment of Mayer makes sense, but I think the Sox have Story just locked at SS, and there is more of a need at 2B then 3B with Bregman returning.
If Anthony proves he can play LF with the Green Monster, I totally support that.
Rafaela is your CF. Yoshida is a platoon DH
Why are they giving Rafaela the off day when he’s (probably) the hottest hitter on the team? Guy has 3 HR 6 2B and is hitting 0.417 over the past week.
Yoshida could use some more time rehabbing from that injury. He wasn’t exactly lighting the minors up during his few rehab games.
Yoshida is the tail wagging the dog. Earlier this year, it looked like $40+MM per year of dead weight between Story and Yoshi. Now that Story is living up to his contract (who knows how long that will last?), maybe eating the money from the lesser mistake is more palatable. I know the FO would love to show off a rehabbed Yoshi for some trade value, but that’s going to take the rest of the season to make anyone believe it, which will eat into the playing time of Cedanne, Duran, Abreu, Anthony to the detriment of the team. Are the Sox in or out in 2025? If they are in, DFA Yoshi.
Should have been Hamilton. Dude’s defense is suspect at best
You’re being polite about Hamilton. His defense is a joke at best. I like Hamilton, but the truth is unless MLB makes another weird rule change and designated base runners during the regular game become a thing, he doesn’t have much worth.
Mafia, with that speed, he’s your 26th man the way Dave Roberts was in 2004.
I’m sure Hamilton will head to AAA on Friday, or whenever Bregman returns. I really like the position player group now, and hope they don’t trade any of them. It’s a good problem to have when you can give players a day off each week during the dog days of summer.
There comes a time when all the cosmic tumblers have clicked into place – and the universe opens itself up for a few seconds to show you what’s possible.
There is the theory of the Moebius, a twist in the fabric of space where time becomes a loop.
Weird how Red Sox think rotating players is below some players yet Detroit rotates almost everyone and they have the best record in baseball! I think some players need to check their egos for the good of the team.