The Red Sox signed Japanese free-agent outfielder Masataka Yoshida to a five-year, $90 million deal Wednesday, a major-league source confirmed to The Athletic. ESPN first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know:
- Yoshida, 29, has played in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league since 2016.
- The 5-foot-8 left-handed hitter slashed .335/.447/.561 with 21 home runs in 119 games last season.
- Boston will also have to pay a $15.4 million posting fee to the Orix Buffaloes as part of the deal, per multiple reports.
Backstory
The Red Sox had heavily scouted Yoshida, a 29-year-old left-handed hitter who turns 30 in July, over the past season. One source told The Athletic earlier this week, they would be “very surprised” if the Red Sox weren’t “serious contenders” to sign Yoshida.
In 119 games, Yoshida hit .335 with a 1.008 OPS, 21 homers and 28 doubles and has put up an on-base percentage of .400 or better in six straight seasons. — McCaffrey
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What Yoshida brings to Boston
As the Red Sox seek to add more athleticism and power to their lineup, Yoshida offers both with a well-rounded and patient approach at the plate. He drew nearly twice as many walks (80) as he did strikeouts (41) in 508 plate appearances last year.
Speaking with the media shortly before the news broke, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom offered general terms when asked about the team’s interest in Yoshida.
“He’s someone that we like, we’ve spent a lot of time on,” he said. “Really, really good hitter quality at bat and great talent.”
Yoshida will join an outfield of Alex Verdugo and Kiké Hernandez, who signed a one-year, $10 million extension at the end of the season to remain in Boston. — McCaffrey
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(Photo: Yukihito Taguchi / USA Today)