Red Sox sign Masataka Yoshida
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
- Start date
They obviously spend money - that isnt in dispute - they've either been close to, at tax, or slightly above basically every year. Their willingness to extend into longer year deals is very much in question. The longest deal this ownership group has executed is 7 years; Chaim- 6 years (obviously not a ton of history).
Stars are getting 8+ year deals now.
Edited to add: I like this - hes a good bet to be the best OF on the team and $17M a year isnt hard to justify even if he is not the ideal fit as someone needs to be able to play RF.
I don't think they're comparable past both being Japanese outfielders, Matsui was 6'2" and Yoshida is 5'8".
More like a lefty Pedroia. That's great to have at the top of the lineup. The defensive reports I read have not been good, but the team needs an outfielder and DH, so he'll work one way or another.
Well it proves one thing, Mr. Hooper. It proves that you wealthy college boys don't have the education enough to admit when you're wrong.
I look forward to seeing how the power translates (if), but pretty psyched about the discipline and fielding.
Pedroia and Manny both got 8 year contracts and they offered a 10 year contract to Betts.
I think I prefer this swing. Might just play with that large wall out in left field.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSxvh3DBR98
Could very well be full time DH and a backup OF. If we still pursue a RF, probably should be RHH.
I said impact didn’t meant to imply they’re similar players. More that both were insanely accomplished NPB hitters (few of which have been really successful in MLB).
Obviously Matsui was on another level. One of the GOATs of NPB. But Yoshida has an insane track record.
The thought of a lefty Pedroia just poking balls of the Monster all summer has a great deal of appeal.
Thanks- in the first video, I was seeing some HR's that may have been long outs at Fenway (hard to Judge, not knowing what the ball is). Seeing him with oppo power is great to see.
Manny was signed by Dan Duquette when the Yawkey Trust was getting the team ready for sale so absolutely yes.
Pedroia's deal was such a discounted deal that I dont think it means anything other than if you take 60-65% of market, a team is going to sign you up.
Edit: Manny's deal despite being signed 20+ years ago remains the second largest commitment the team has ever made. Thats pretty astounding given increase in player valuations and is at least somewhat indicative of an organization that tries to avoid long term commitments that approach market rates.
Bloom did well here. I think the Giants would've used some of the money earmarked for Judge to bid on Yoshida if the Sox hadn't moved so quickly.
Edit: Consider the sources, but Phillips and JP Morosi both mentioned Benintendi as a comp on MLB Network.
Edit: Consider the sources, but Phillips and JP Morosi both mentioned Benintendi as a comp on MLB Network.
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Seems like hopefully a Lefty Pedroia with less defensive value.
Ignoring the posting fee, in this market they're banking on about 10 WAR over 5 years from age 29-34. I don't know anything beyond the stats and just posted YouTube videos, but doesn't sound too unreasonable.
Probably unlikely to go the way of Rusney Castillo at least.
Ignoring the posting fee, in this market they're banking on about 10 WAR over 5 years from age 29-34. I don't know anything beyond the stats and just posted YouTube videos, but doesn't sound too unreasonable.
Probably unlikely to go the way of Rusney Castillo at least.
Somewhat nervous but also excited by this signing. ~17mm isn't a trivial outlay, but if he plays to his potential the upside is massive. The thing that is scaring me is the general failure rate of NPB hitters in MLB is pretty high. I hate the idea of dead money on the books in 2025-2027, but there is enough upside here to make it work. If he can turn in 2-3 wins a year that's a very solid deal.
EDIT: also love the handedness, the Sox really struggled against RHP last year.
EDIT: also love the handedness, the Sox really struggled against RHP last year.
Yup. I think we have a much better read on Nippon Professional Baseball than the Cuban Serie Nacional.
$18 AAV at 5 year commitment for what seems like a high floor, high ceiling player seems like a borderline bargain given what the likes of James Tallion have received in this market.
Do you realize /
A fastball doesn't rise /
It's just an illusion cauuuuused /
By the baaaaaall /
Spinning fast.
Wow this is surprising and exciting!
Withoout knowing much about him, I picture this guy to be some sort of combo of Ron Gant (short yet stocky/strong LF with pop) and Bernie Carbo (LH, not great defensively or fast, but can really flat-out hit).
The lineup really could use a hitter who works counts, lays off bad pitches, doesn't swing at junk, and won't get himself out in RISP situations.
Seems like most hitters coming from Japan lose some HR power, so I wouldn't expect more than 15 HR from him next year, especially with the big transition he's making. But that strike zone control and OBP, that should really help.
Withoout knowing much about him, I picture this guy to be some sort of combo of Ron Gant (short yet stocky/strong LF with pop) and Bernie Carbo (LH, not great defensively or fast, but can really flat-out hit).
The lineup really could use a hitter who works counts, lays off bad pitches, doesn't swing at junk, and won't get himself out in RISP situations.
Seems like most hitters coming from Japan lose some HR power, so I wouldn't expect more than 15 HR from him next year, especially with the big transition he's making. But that strike zone control and OBP, that should really help.
Love this signing and getting a contact monster into the lineup.
Baseball America’s write up suggests what you do: gap to gap power that may be more doubles than HR, but a great eye and lineup addition.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-scouting-report-on-new-red-sox-outfielder-masataka-yoshida/?amphtml
An average player is not the worst thing in the world, especially when they aren’t paid all that much. I’d probably keep Verdugo another year. What kind of return can they get for him, and who do they acquire to replace him? None of the remaining free agent OF are all that compelling.
The lineup is also very lefty heavy right now if Verdugo remains. They still need a right-handed bat with pop.
I share sentiments of wanting RF to be vastly improved, but any concerns about our presumably starting CF Kiké Hernandez being penciled in as a starter?
In 9 seasons, he's played 130+ games 4x. Of those 4x, he's OPS+'d over 100 just twice.
2018: 117
2020: 108
I get he's a plus defender, but I have some concerns about his durability and his bat being consistent.
In 9 seasons, he's played 130+ games 4x. Of those 4x, he's OPS+'d over 100 just twice.
2018: 117
2020: 108
I get he's a plus defender, but I have some concerns about his durability and his bat being consistent.
I agree with your conclusion, but not sure that he can really be characterized as high floor. There's a definite chance that he just can't make the transition to MLB. Seiya Suzuki put up OPS numbers better than Yoshida (in the ~1.050) range for the last few years of his NPB career (at a younger age) and then dropped down to .766 in his first year in MLB. And that's probably not Yoshida's floor.
We've seen enough people crush it at Worcester to the tune of 1.000+ OPS only to look like fools at the MLB level to know that transitioning up like that is far from guaranteed.
I was reading that the Dodgers want an inexpensive CF and were considering a plus defender (Kiermaier). Maybe Hernandez gets moved? He was beloved on the LAD. Maybe a three-way deal?
