The Boston Red Sox have logged a losing record to start the season as some major changes have carried a bit of drama.<\/p>\n
The front office brought in Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, Aroldis Chapman and others in hopes of ending a playoff drought. But when they signed perennial All-Star Alex Bregman to play third base, it seemed to irk franchise slugger Rafael Devers.<\/p>\n
Devers initially balked at the idea of giving up his long-time position at third to accommodate Bregman. The Red Sox opened the year with Devers as a full-time designated hitter, but after a season-ending knee injury to first baseman Triston Casas, it seemed like the team might ask him to move again.<\/p>\n
Shifting Devers to first base would give him the chance to join the defense again and open up the DH position to others. In particular, that might offer a home for Masataka Yoshida now that he has recovered his ability to swing.<\/p>\n
But as the Red Sox try to adjust their lineup, the team has been steadfast in a decision on Yoshida’s return.<\/p>\n
“Until he is ready to play the outfield, the Red Sox have no plans to add him to the roster,” Peter Abraham\u00a0reported for The Boston Globe. “Yoshida is able to swing without restrictions \u2014 ‘no problem,’ he said \u2014 but the Red Sox don’t need a lefthanded designated hitter with Rafael Devers already in that role.”<\/p>\n
Yoshida is in the third year of a $90 million contract he signed with the team in 2022.<\/p>\n
After ruling out Yoshida for an offense-only role, the Red Sox might be signaling their conclusion on Devers. The team has been sticking with a platoon of Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro at first, despite the fact that neither player has played a full major-league season up to this point.<\/p>\n
But even if they do move Devers again or try a new option at first, it seems Yoshida won’t be returning until he recovers his ability to throw.<\/p>\n
“The Red Sox have said they only want to bring Yoshida back if he can play in the outfield,” per\u00a0Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.<\/p>\n
Bringing Yoshida back to DH might make sense for the team on paper, particularly as it seeks an offensive boost, but it appears to be off the table.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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