The Boston Red Sox still can't trade away outfielder Masanao Yoshida and don't want him to take the designated hitter (DH) position, and head coach Alex Cora is now talking about the possibility of returning Yoshida to the left field. Yoshida only played one outfield last season, and the rest of the appearances were as DH, except for the Red Sox who were not satisfied with Yoshida's defensive ability, and his right shoulder injury affecting the passing was the main reason (right pass left play).

After the season ended, Yoshida underwent labial surgery on his right shoulder joint, and Kora hopes that healthy Yoshida can return to the outfield rotation, having played 87 of his 140 games in his 2023 season in the major leagues. Kira also praised Yoshida as a good left-hand hitter when healthy, with 25 hits, 54 home runs, 128 RBIs and an average batting average of 0.285 and an attack index of 0.775 in two seasons.

The Red Sox wanted to trade away Masasho Yoshida before the start of last season, and he himself said through an interpreter: "I silenced those trade rumors, I didn't really care." Then he confessed, "I do have concerns, but it's not something I can control, so we can just wait and see." There is no shortage of left-handed hitters for the Red Sox, and Yoshida still has three years and $55.8 million left on his salary, and the original contract was five years and $90 million, including a whopping $105 million for the Golden Sox.