Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

OSAKA, JAPAN - MARCH 09: Designated hitter Masataka Yoshida #34 of Japan celebrates after hitting a RBI single to make it 1-0 in the top of 1st inning during the game one between Japan and Mexico at Kyocera Dome Osaka on March 9, 2019 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)

  • After a painful wait, Chaim Bloom and the Boston Red Sox have made their first big splash of the offseason.

    On a day that started with the addition of closer Kenley Jansen to the Boston bullpen, the Red Sox took their spending spree to the field with the signing of Japanese star outfielder Masataka Yoshida to a five-year, $105.4 million contract, according to multiple reports.

    Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Yoshida’s contract with Boston will be worth $90 million, while $15.4 million will go to the Orix Buffaloes as part of Yoshida’s posting fee.

  • A veteran of six professional seasons in Japan, the 29-year-old Yoshida appeared in 121 games this past season, and established career-highs in RBIs (89), slugging percentage (.559), and OPS (1.007).

    In addition to the career-highs, Yoshida also put a .336 average, 21 home runs, and 28 doubles for Orix last year.

    Overall, the 5-foot-8, 176-pound outfielder has put up a .326 average and .419 on-base percentage, along with 135 home runs and 474 RBIs, in 781 games overseas since 2016.

  • YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 07: Outfielder Masataka Yoshida #34 of Team Japan lines out into the double play in the first inning against  of Team United State during the gold medal game between Team United States and Team Japan on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on August 07, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)

    YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – AUGUST 07: Outfielder Masataka Yoshida #34 of Team Japan lines out into the double play in the first inning against of Team United State during the gold medal game between Team United States and Team Japan on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on August 07, 2021. (Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)

  • Considered one of the best contact hitters available, Yoshida will come to Boston after a 2022 season that ended with the Orix Buffaloes ending a 26-year Japan Series drought, and with Yoshida playing hero along the way with a walk-off blast.

    Yoshida was also part of Japan’s gold-winning baseball team at the 2020 Olympics, with the righty-throwing, lefty-swinging Yoshida posting a .350 average with two RBIs on that run to gold.

  • Yoshida joins a Boston outfield that currently features Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Kiké Hernandez, Rob Refsnyder, and Alex Verdugo as outfielders on its 40-man roster.

    And with Yoshida signed, all eyes will turn to the Red Sox and their situation with franchise shortstop and current unrestricted free agent Xander Bogaerts, who remains unsigned as of 7 p.m. Wednesday.

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