Red Sox Could Be Forced to Trade Key Slugger, But Not Who You Think

The Boston Red Sox have encountered all sorts of problems with Rafael Devers this offseason, as the All-Star slugger is not too keen on moving off of third base for free-agent addition Alex Bregman.

As a result, trade speculation has ensued concerning Devers, although the Red Sox don’t appear to be all that interested in moving the 28-year-old.

However, Boston could move another one of its top hitters: Masataka Yoshida, and it’s largely because of what the Sox plan on doing with Devers.

Yoshida served as the team’s designated hitter last year, but the Red Sox are hoping to slide Devers into that role for the 2025 MLB campaign. That would make Yoshida expendable, and Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe has said that “a trade isn’t impossible” for the Japanese native.

Of course, Boston needs to get things sorted out with Devers first, but barring a drastic turn of events, Devers will probably end up starting the season as the Red Sox’s designated hitter. In that case, Yoshida would almost surely be on the chopping block.

Boston signed Yoshida back in December 2022, and during his debut campaign in Beantown, the 31-year-old slashed .289/.338/.445 with 15 home runs and 72 RBI over 580 plate appearances.

Injuries then limited Yoshida to 108 games last year, but during his time on the field in 2024, he registered a .280/.349/.415 slash line to go along with 10 homers and 56 RBI.

Yoshida doesn’t provide a ton of pop, but he has solid plate discipline and owns a very respectable lifetime .775 OPS, making him a rather valuable piece to a team in need of another bat.