The Boston Red Sox are heading into another season with a familiar problem: too many outfielders and not enough clarity. And right in the middle of that outfield traffic jam is Masataka Yoshida – a player whose role on this roster has been shifting ever since he arrived in Boston.

Yoshida, now entering the fourth year of his contract, finds himself once again without a clear position. He’s bounced between the outfield and designated hitter duties, but neither spot has truly stuck.

Part of that is due to a string of injuries. Part of it is inconsistency at the plate.

And part of it is just the way the Red Sox roster is built right now – deep, young, and defensively gifted in the outfield.

According to Red Sox insider Chris Cotillo, that roster crunch may finally squeeze Yoshida out. In his list of 2026 season predictions, Cotillo projects that Yoshida won’t be on the Opening Day roster. Whether that means a trade or a DFA (designated for assignment) is still up in the air, but the writing on the wall is getting harder to ignore.

A trade would obviously be the cleaner route, but the Red Sox haven’t had much luck finding takers for Yoshida in the past. His contract and limited defensive value have made that a tough sell. That makes the DFA route – cutting ties and eating some salary – a more likely scenario, even if it’s not ideal.

This isn’t the first time Cotillo has made this prediction, and if Yoshida somehow hangs on through spring training, it might not be the last. But this time, the fit feels more strained than ever.

Let’s break it down.

Yoshida’s defensive limitations have always been a concern. He’s not a burner in the outfield, and his arm strength doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

That’s a tough sell when the Red Sox are loaded with young, athletic outfielders who can cover serious ground and flash the leather. Roman Anthony is knocking on the door.

Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu already have Gold Gloves on their résumés. This isn’t a group that’s easy to crack.

On top of that, manager Alex Cora prefers to keep the designated hitter spot flexible – a revolving door based on matchups, rest days, and hot bats. Locking Yoshida into that role full-time would limit Cora’s options. And with power bats like Triston Casas and Willson Contreras also expected to rotate through the DH slot, there’s just not a lot of room for a contact-first hitter like Yoshida, especially one who doesn’t bring much defensive value to the table.

That said, it hasn’t all been bad. Yoshida has had his moments in a Red Sox uniform.

He’s come through in big spots, including during last year’s playoff push. In September, he slashed .333/.351/.486 – a sign that when he’s locked in, he can still be a productive hitter.

He followed that up with a solid Wild Card round against the Yankees, collecting four hits and driving in two runs over three games.

Those late-season flashes might give some front offices just enough reason to kick the tires on a trade, especially if Boston is willing to eat some of the salary or package Yoshida with another player. But realistically, that’s a long shot. The Red Sox front office isn’t going to be thrilled about paying a premium just to move on from a player, even if the roster fit is awkward.

Yoshida still has a loyal following in Boston. There’s a segment of the fanbase that appreciates his approach at the plate and the occasional clutch moment.

And if he does stick around for one more season, there won’t be outrage in the stands. But from a baseball operations standpoint, the fit just doesn’t make much sense anymore.

So while nothing’s official yet, Cotillo’s prediction feels more grounded than speculative. The Red Sox have a direction they’re moving in – younger, faster, more versatile – and Yoshida, for all his strengths, just doesn’t align with that vision right now.

Opening Day is still a few months away, but the clock may be ticking on Yoshida’s time in Boston.