How Red Sox outsmarted rival teams for star outfielder Masataka Yoshida

There is reportedly one reason why teams didn’t pursue outfielder Masataka Yoshida this past offseason, and it worked out to the Boston Red Sox’s benefit.

The Boston Red Sox have faced some criticism for how they handled their offseason, especially after losing shortstop Xander Bogaerts to the San Diego Padres. But after a month into the season, it appears that the team has hit a home run in signing Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida. In the month of May alone (as of May 7), Yoshida has recorded a .480 batting average .519 on-base percentage, a .800 slugging percentage, two home runs, seven runs scored, eight RBI and 12 hits.

As Yoshida is mashing with the Red Sox, there is now word as to why other teams didn’t make more of an effort to sign him.

During an appearance on “SportsCenter”, ESPN senior writer Buster Olney revealed that other teams opted against signing Yoshida because they didn’t thing his defense would be “good enough” in MLB.

"“In the last eight games, they’ve (Red Sox) averaged about 7.5 runs per game. During that time, hitting .341. And nobody in baseball is hotter than Masataka Yoshida, their left fielder. In the last 15 games, he’s hitting .433 with a .787 slugging percentage. This is someone who other teams passed on because they didn’t think his defense was going to be good enough. Look, I think anybody would take him the way he’s hitting right now,” said Olney, h/t NESN."

Other MLB teams were concerned with Masataka Yoshida’s defense

As Olney said in the quote above, those teams are probably regretting not signing him. But, there is still a lot of season left. As of now, the Red Sox are benefitting from adding Yoshida’s to their batting order.

This offseason, the Red Sox signed Yoshida to a five-year, $90 million contract after playing seven years for the Nippon Professional Baseball’s Orix Buffaloes. In that span, Yoshida proved to be one of the league’s best hitters, recording a .327 batting average, a .421 on-base percentage, a .539 slugging percentage, 133 home runs, 467 RBI and 884 hits.

As of this writing, Yoshida is thriving in Boston, as he’s in the midst of a 16-game hitting streak. Through 29 games, the 29-year-old is slashing .321/.403/.536 while recording six home runs, 22 runs scored, 24 RBI and 36 hits.

Now let’s get to the defense that these teams were seemingly worried about. In the left field, Yoshida holds a .974 fielding percentage, recording 37 putouts, one assist and one error in 39 total chances. Not bad so far.

So far, Yoshida has been the player the Red Sox have been looking for. Yoshida will look to extend his hitting streak to 17 games on Tuesday, May 9 against the Atlanta Braves.