Red Sox Upgrade the Outfield With Yoshida Signing

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As first reported by Jeff Passan, the Boston Red Sox have signed Nippon Professional Baseball star outfielder Masataka Yoshida.

BREAKING: Outfielder Masataka Yoshida and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a contract, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 7, 2022

The move is expected to bolster Boston’s outfield. After a relatively quiet start to Free Agency for Boston, the team is finally making some big time acquisitions.

The 29-year-old Yoshida has been on fire ever since entering the NPB in 2016. With a current career slash line of .326/.419/.538, the 5-foot 8-inch outfielder has not stopped mashing since his rookie year.

Masataka Yoshida (34) hits a single against Korea in a baseball semifinal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

With this addition, the Red Sox outfield looks much more formidable. Especially with Yoshida in left, Hernandez in center, and Verdugo in right. The $105.4 million total cost for the five year deal should pay off in droves.

Featured photo Creator: The Asahi Shimbun / Credit: The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images