Red Sox Could 'Significantly Alter' Outfield, Open To Trading Masataka Yoshida

Would the Boston Red Sox trade one of their long-term assets under new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow?

The Red Sox reportedly are contemplating making considerable changes to their outfield, even after swapping out Alex Verdugo for Tyler O'Neill.

"Teoscar Hernández coming? Masataka Yoshida going? The turnover in the Red Sox’s outfield might not be complete," The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey reported Friday. "According to people with knowledge of their conversations, the team remains engaged in talks that could significantly alter its outfield alignment even further."

It sounds as if the Red Sox are going to make a trade involving Yoshida, it would be financially motivated, which is both stupid and depressing.

"Hernández, who would address the Red Sox’s need for power, remains a point of focus," Rosenthal and McCaffrey continued. "But according to one person with knowledge of the talks, the Red Sox prefer to tackle other areas of the roster and reduce payroll before committing to the free agent. Several teams have inquired about Yoshida, and while the Red Sox do not appear to be actively shopping him, they are open to virtually any idea as they seek to build a better roster."

Yoshida hit .289 with 51 extra-base hits including 15 home runs, 72 RBIs and a .783 OPS (109 OPS+) in 140 games last season, his first stateside.

The 30-year-old is a poor defender, there's no way around it. But he still produced plenty to warrant his $18 million average annual value. A shift to the designated hitter role with an acquisition of someone such as Hernández would further increase his production.

Trading Yoshida and filling his role with Hernández would be ludicrous. How much better does the team truly get? Hernández posted an OPS+ three points lower with average at best defense. 

The moves within the margins need to stop in Boston. It's time to go get a frontline starter, notable right-handed bat and start winning again. This is Boston, not Milwaukee, there's no reason to cut costs.