Report: Masataka Yoshida Thought He Would Sign With Blue Jays In Offseason
One of free agency's top bats thought he was going to be a Blue Jay.
Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida said "he thought he was going to end up with the Blue Jays," per The Athletic's Chad Jennings. Per Jennings, Yoshida told Boston manager Alex Cora the Jays were a serious runner-up for his services in free agency.
“I’m glad that it was us,” Cora told Jennings.
The 29-year-old Japanese outfielder ended up signing a five-year deal with the Red Sox, paying out over $90 million. The Jays made a few other moves for left-handed outfield bats instead, trading for Daulton Varsho from the Diamondbacks and signing Kevin Kiermaier for a one-year deal.
Yoshida has been an immediate breakout star in Boston, hitting over .300 with an .867 OPS in his first 64 games. However, at the time of Yoshida's signing, some executives and pundits ripped the deal as an overpay. One executive told ESPN's Kiley McDaniel the deal was an "overpay for me ... too rich imo." Another said "we thought he was worth less than half of what they paid."
