These trade rumors involving Masataka Yoshida and Kenley Jansen are ridiculous. The Red Sox shouldn’t be a team that needs to cut payroll to add players.
Yet here we are.
Craig Breslow is trying to be creative in building a better roster under whatever constraints John W. Henry has put on him. I get it. But you’re the Boston Freaking Red Sox — spend some money!
Boston’s already saved some cash with the Chris Sale trade and is roughly $35 million below the first luxury tax threshold. How much more money do they need to shed?
Since this is our new reality, unfortunately, if the Sox must trade someone, Kenley Jansen makes the most sense to move.
In almost no scenario does it make any sense to trade Masataka Yoshida.
Jansen’s Replaceable if Breslow Must Shed Money
Embed from Getty ImagesJansen, 36, is entering his final season under contract with the Red Sox. He’ll make $16 million in 2024.
At that salary and coming off a good-if-inconsistent 2023, why not move him and get something in return?
Through May 10, he was nine of 10 in saves, allowing one run over 11.2 innings. He walked three and struck out 17, and opponents hit just .222/.271/.267/.538 against him.
From May 12 to July 1, he had eight saves in 10 opportunities, allowing ten runs over 17 innings. He walked nine and struck out 18, and opponents hit .279/.364/.441/.805 against Jansen.
And from July 5-September 12, Jansen saved 12 of 13 games, allowing seven runs over 16 innings, walking five and striking out 17. The opposition hit just .196/.286/.393/.679 against him.
Kenley’s still good enough that the Red Sox can get something of value back, particularly if they eat some salary.
Additionally, Boston has younger, cheaper, arguably better, more consistent in-house replacements in Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock.
That is if the Sox are smart.
Houck (2.68 career reliever ERA/.570 opponents OPS; 2.33 ERA/.593 opponents OPS as closer in 2022) and Whitlock (2.65 career reliever ERA [4.95 reliever ERA last year]/.632 opponents OPS) are more than capable of taking over the ninth inning/late innings.
If the Red Sox eat even half of Jansen’s salary, between Sale and this hypothetical, the Red Sox would be saving $15-$17+ million (roughly. I’m terrible at math.) on top of the $35 million they can spend before reaching the first luxury tax threshold. Boston could’ve found the money for Teoscar Hernandez and a good mid-tier starter, along with trading for a young, controllable starter (which they still need to do).
But I digress.
To clarify, I’m not rooting for a trade; it just makes too much sense not to trade Kenley Jansen under the current circumstances.
Trade Rumors Involving Masataka Yoshida Make No Sense
Embed from Getty ImagesConversely, trade rumors surrounding Masataka Yoshida make zero sense.
Masa’s entering year two — year two in the United States, mind you — of a five-year deal, earning $18 million in 2024.
Sure, Yoshida’s MLB debut season was a tale of two seasons. He still hit .289/.338/.445/.783 with 33 doubles, 15 home runs, 72 RBI, 34 walks, 81 strikeouts, and eight stolen bases.
And sure, his final 2023 numbers might be padded by a fantastic first half in which he hit .316/.382/.492/.874 with 19 doubles, ten home runs, 44 RBI, 27 BB, 36 K, and six stolen bases.
But if you genuinely believe Masa’s drop-off is a sign of things to come, well, he’s not the first hitter from Japan to experience struggles in year one.
Cubs fans must have been disappointed with outfielder Seiya Suzuki's first season in the majors. He slashed a medicore .262/.336/.433 with 22 doubles, 14 homers, 46 RBI and 42 BB/110 K over 446 PA. The defense wasn't a plus either at -0.7 dWAR.
— Ed Hand (@EdHand89) January 6, 2024
In his second go around, he was… pic.twitter.com/7BKa4P1Di7
Better conditioning and more time at designated hitter and Yoshida’s bat will play over 162.
He has more value to the Red Sox than on any other team.
Fenway fits his defense best (-8 Outs Above Average/-12 Fielding Run Value/-4 Defensive Runs Saved). And Boston’s lineup really needs Masa with Justin Turner all but gone and Alex Verdugo traded.
The lineup would be worse than it already is, sans Yoshida.
A Masataka Yoshida trade doesn’t need to and shouldn’t happen. The Red Sox can always pivot to re-signing Adam Duvall, signing Jorge Soler, or even trading for a powerful right-handed hitter (ideally an outfielder) after whiffing on Teoscar.
(Boston needs to improve its defense; as far as free agents go, Duvall is a better fit than Soler.)
That would then open up the potential to trade one of the young outfielders in a package for starting pitching. That’s all the Masataka Yoshida trade rumors are to me: one potential way to acquire a starter.
Reports indicate the Red Sox are not actively shopping Yoshida, but who really knows? This offseason hasn’t been the best for sports journalists/reporters pushing accurate information.
Regardless, any trade involving Masataka Yoshida would be a move to rob Peter to pay Paul if there ever was one.
Nonsense. Complete nonsense.
Pay up for players, John W. Henry! We shouldn’t even be thinking about any of this.
Featured Image Credit: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
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