Red Sox are looking to sell so they can buy
Despite showing interest in Imanaga, the Red Sox are considering trading either closer Kenley Jansen or outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida, both of whom were acquired by the Red Sox last offseason. This appears to be a proactive move by the team aimed at creating financial flexibility to pursue free agent Teoscar Hernandez, a player linked to Boston since mid-December.
At 36, Jansen still holds value, having been an All-Star in 2023. Despite a 3.63 ERA, his performance for most of the season was solid, except for challenging months in May and September. Meanwhile, Yoshida poses a financial concern as he’s owed a substantial amount. His previous season was lackluster, with only a 1.4 rWAR. While there’s potential for improvement, his poor fielding and modest offensive stats (109 OPS+) might not justify other teams investing heavily in prospects for his acquisition.
