The Boston Red Sox are facing a problem most ball clubs could only dream about: too many good players. The most glaring logjam is Alex Bregman’s takeover at third base, which pushed Rafael Devers to a full-time designated hitter role. Both of those players need everyday playing time, and No. 3 prospect Marcelo Mayer will probably only see time at shortstop if Trevor Story misses time with injury.

But the logjams are not limited to the infield. No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony, who is batting .286 with a .962 OPS and four home runs through his first 70 Triple-A at-bats, is getting called up sometime this summer. The Red Sox want Anthony to play regularly, no matter where he is, but a crowded outfield complicates that inevitable call-up. Jarren Duran is a cornerstone player. Wilyer Abreu won the Gold Glove in right field in 2024 and is scorching hot at the plate. Ceddanne Rafaela, the weakest batter of the bunch, is still a terrific and versatile defender.

Furthermore, outfielder/DH Masataka Yoshida, who has been on the injured list all season, is a career .285 batter with a .775 OPS and a 111 OPS+. MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal recently talked to Foul Territory about the complicated situation in Boston: “Let’s start by saying there’s never a problem when you have too many good players,” Rosenthal said. “And that could be where the Red Sox are headed with Roman Anthony coming, or eventually Marcelo Mayer as well. But it seems to me, as far as the Casas-Yoshida question is concerned, at some point there is going to need to be a decision, and one of those guys is probably not going to be on the roster…

“These are issues that might resolve on their own, might require the team to resolve them in some fashion. But yeah, they have a question with all of these guys. There’s too many of them to fit on one roster. It’s a good thing, but ultimately, it’s going to lead to some move one way or the other.” With Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer looming, the Red Sox could have some tough decisions forthcoming, says @Ken_Rosenthal.

“At some point, there’s going to need to be a decision, and one of those guys [Yoshida/Casas] probably isn’t going to be on the roster.” pic.twitter.com/QTjfck2M1r — Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 22, 2025 Casas has not done himself any favors with a .165 batting average, a .520 OPS, and a 49 OPS+ in 2025. However, he is still only 25 years old, and there is no clear replacement for him at first base.

This leaves Yoshida as the odd man out. He would provide interested teams with a proven, left-handed bat, and despite his defensive deficiencies, it is hard to refuse offensive production in this league.

Yoshida also has three years remaining on his contract, which pays $18.6 million, and that substantial salary does not make him the easiest piece to trade. It seems unlikely that the Red Sox would flat-out cut him, but his path to at-bats is growing murkier and murkier.