Getty Image / Maddie Malhotra
It’s been a bad offseason so far for the Boston Red Sox. The team, which had a disappointing season in 2021, came into a huge offseason. Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts was a free agent, and they needed to lock up another star infielders, Rafael Devers, to a long-term deal. Plus, fans were getting restless, as they have been accusing owner John Henry of pinching pennies.
And, they took a big hit when Bogaerts left the team to sign a huge deal with the San Diego Padres.
Red Sox essentially let the face of the franchise walk out the door twice in the span of three seasons.
Mookie Betts in 2020 and now Xander Bogaerts in 2022. Both of those guys won a World Series for the franchise.
Unforgivable. pic.twitter.com/h1BwbXvyfr
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) December 8, 2022
Now, they’re taking heat over the only splash singing they made all offseason.
The Red Sox are taking heat for their signing of Masataka Yoshida
The Sox signed the Japanese star to a big deal this week.
Red Sox have signed OF Masataka Yoshida, per @JeffPassan. The deal is worth 5-years for more than $85 MM.
He slashed .336/.449/.559/1.007 with 21 HR in 121 games this past season.
Has been comped to Luis Arraez. Perfect leadoff guy for this team.
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) December 7, 2022
But, they’re taking heat, as some see it as an overpay.
ESPN's Kiley McDaniel on new Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida:
According to "10 sources" he spoke to they all "thought the Red Sox overpaid by a hefty margin." One executive went as far as to say, "We thought he was worth less than half of what they paid." pic.twitter.com/FjzSGTnc3X
— Beyond the Monster (@BeyondtheMnstr) December 8, 2022
That’s not good. yes, he can hit. But, he’s still a middle-aged corner outfielder and a below average defensive player. It’s part of a pattern of Boston moves under Chaim Bloom and John Henry that don’t make sense.
There’s so much about the way the Red Sox handled Xander Bogaerts’s situation that doesn’t make sense. For example: they spent more money to sign Yoshida (($105m), a corner OF about the same age as Bogaerts, than they offered Bogaerts, an All-Star SS, in the spring. ($90m).
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 8, 2022
Again, it just doesn’t make any sense.
They signed him extraordinarily quickly. AND before prioritizing X and Devers. And then X went to SD. Bloom has to be on the hot seat
Yoshida projects to be a worse-fielding Carlos Santana. That's worth $20 mil per year? We'll see..
— Bader Tot (@brackett_justin) December 9, 2022
Let’s hope they can right the ship.