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Red Sox Rumors: Why Yoshida could be the key to signing Shohei Ohtani

By Michael DeVito

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 11: Masataka Yoshida #34 of Japan hits a sacrifice fly to make it 1-7 in the fourth inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Czech Republic and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 11, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 11: Masataka Yoshida #34 of Japan hits a sacrifice fly to make it 1-7 in the fourth inning during the World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Czech Republic and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 11, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Red Sox current roster is less than thrilling after an offseason that saw the club sign many older and/or injured players to stock a roster that needed an influx of stars, not questions.

Championships are made in the offseason and do any members of Red Sox Nation think that’s in the realm of possibility? Not likely.

One glimmer of brightness did happen, however. That was when the Boston Red Sox actually made a nice big-market team-like signing.

That of course would be signing former Japanese Professional Baseball League star, Masataka Yoshida to a contract. He was a risk of sorts like all players from another baseball league.

Boston Red Sox: Yoshida a great signing

Yet, Yoshida is just the type of signing that big-market teams can make to try to hit paydirt. So far, signs are positive. In addition, could there be another massive positive that could happen partially as a result of signing Yoshida?

Media is now ablaze with a photo of Yoshida and LA Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani at the World Baseball Classic. Let’s take a look at what that might mean.

Here’s how Adrian Dorney of sportskeeda.com saw the interaction between the two stars,

"After hitting an RBI single in Thursday’s game, Masataka Yoshida saluted his teammate Shohei Ohtani, who advanced from first base to third on his hit. Yoshida’s RBI came in the sixth inning and put his team up by a 10-4 margin…Red Sox fans are already using the on-field encounter as a reason for Ohtani to consider signing with their team when his one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels expires after this season."

Certainly, having a player on the Boston Red Sox who he knows and has played with before can’t hurt should the penurious Beantown red hose decide to actually become “players” in baseball again.

Boston Red Sox, Yoshida and Shohei Ohtani

If this was actually part of a two-for strategy by Chaim Bloom to first sign Yoshida and then make a big play for Ohtani, then it’s the “stuff that dreams are made of” as Humphrey Bogart said in the movie, “The Maltese Falcon”.

Dedrick Hendrix of FanSided spoke of a dream this way,

"While a lot needs to happen to make the Red Sox a serious contender in the Ohtani sweepstakes, it would help that he already has what looks like a great relationship with Yoshida. Seeing these two phenoms as a duo in Boston could only be a Red Sox dream…"

If that was the thought and actually eventuates, then Bloom should be (and will be) praised to the hilt for a brilliant piece of major league baseball big-team, big-time strategy.

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The cost will be huge in salary for Ohtani but by signing him you not only get your top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher but also a tremendous MVP-level hitter. Ohtani is worth whatever it takes.

Hopefully, the Yoshida/Ohtani friendship or team chemistry will facilitate this move. If so, it will truly signal a  “back to the future” move by the Boston Red Sox and wouldn’t that be nice?

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