MLB Notebook: Masataka Yoshida opens up about disappointing Red Sox tenure; Trevor Story opts in without hesitation; week 1 spring training notes

Masataka Yoshida enters camp healthy but acknowledged he hasn’t lived up to the expectations that came with his five-year, $90-million contract. While he’s expected to serve as the club’s designated hitter this spring, his name has also surfaced in trade rumors. Yoshida admitted his time in Boston hasn’t unfolded the way he envisioned.

“Now I have three years under my belt — to be honest with you guys, these three years weren’t what I expected,” Yoshida said through interpreter Yutaro Yamaguchi. “So I’ll leave it at that.”

When the Red Sox signed Yoshida, they projected him as a disciplined hitter with power. Instead, he has developed into more of a contact-oriented bat, struggled defensively in the outfield, and battled injuries since arriving in Boston.

After spending his entire professional career in Japan, Yoshida at times struggled adjusting to the physical grind of a Major League season. Late in 2023, he underwent TMJ surgery for an issue that lingered throughout the year. During the 2024 season, he missed time from April through June with a left thumb strain. In October 2024, he had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. That injury lingered into 2025, forcing him to open the season on the 60-day injured list and endure additional recovery setbacks.

Across his first three seasons in Boston, Yoshida has hit .282 with a .762 OPS. However, the shoulder injury limited him significantly over the past two years. Last season, he appeared in just 55 games and hit four home runs. He did finish strong, batting .383 with a .967 OPS over his final 12 regular-season games before going 4-for-7 (.571) in the playoffs.

Yoshida’s roster fit has been nothing short of an awkward fit the last couple of years. Boston explored trade options last offseason, most notably in discussions with the Mariners while seeking starting pitching depth. The Red Sox even considered attaching Triston Casas in a package for right-hander Luis Castillo, but the deal never materialized. Boston wanted Seattle to absorb the remaining money on Yoshida’s contract and viewed Casas as the premium asset in the proposal, but the sides couldn’t find common ground.

Meanwhile, Boston’s outfield has grown significantly more athletic with Wilyer Abreu emerging as an elite defender in right field, winning two Gold Gloves, while Ceddanne Rafaela captured a Gold Glove in center field. The continued rise of Roman Anthony and Jarren Duran has further reshaped the roster, adding speed, range, and versatility across all three spots.

Yoshida is aware of the trade speculation but declined to say whether he would welcome a change of scenery.

“That’s not what I’m thinking about right now,” Yoshida said. “All I’m thinking about right now is performing, playing well and playing hard.”

He admitted the trade chatter has been a new experience.

“That’s something I didn’t really experience back in Japan. Trades don’t happen as often there,” Yoshida said. “But to trade somebody, both clubs have to agree, right? So it’s going to be tough. It’s part of the business, but it is new to me.”

For now, Yoshida’s primary focus is getting his shoulder fully healthy and helping Team Japan defend its World Baseball Classic title.

“It’s special, right?” Yoshida said of representing his country. “I just want to deliver, bring out a good performance and please the Japanese fans.”

As for his role in Boston, Yoshida said he hasn’t yet discussed specifics with manager Alex Cora but will be ready for whatever the team needs.

“It kind of depends on what the situation is, but I’m open to anything,” Yoshida said.

Trevor Story's quick decision

Trevor Story didn’t need the five-day opt-out window.

Last fall, after the Red Sox were eliminated by the Yankees in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium, Story sought manager Alex Cora almost immediately. While the shortstop technically had until five days after the conclusion of the World Series to decide whether to opt out of the remaining two years and $55 million on his contract, his mind was already made up.

“He opted in, and he decided to stay here,” Cora said Friday. “That was right away. We had that conversation five minutes after the last out in New York. He came to my office like, ‘I’m in. I ain’t going nowhere.’”

“It wasn’t ever like, ‘Hey dude, I’m coming back, I’m opting in,’” Story said. “We were just talking about next year—like, ‘This is what we’re going to do. This is what we’re excited about.’ We talked about the progress we made last year, so it was more about the future. I think there was just an understanding that this is where I want to be, and he knew that.

“I knew,” Story added. “You’ve kind of got to play the game a little bit or whatever, but obviously I knew.”

Story appeared in 157 regular-season games—160 including the postseason—nearly matching the 163 games he played combined during his three injury-plagued seasons from 2022 to 2024. The 33-year-old hit .263 with a .741 OPS, 25 home runs, 29 doubles, and 31 stolen bases, rediscovering the impact he once had in Colorado.

“I do know that there’s another level in there,” Story said. “Just kind of getting back to baseline was big for me, which I think is what last year was. So I’m excited to push and get after it this year.”

“I’m excited about him,” Cora said. “I saw him taking BP—he’s night-and-day compared to last year. Last year, he was trying to find himself early. Today, there was a lot of confidence in that batting practice.

“He was one of the best hitters in the big leagues the last four months of the season,” Cora added. “And he’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Story struggled early, hitting just .216 through the first two months. But after a late-May session with hitting coach Pete Fatse, his season turned. From June 1 on, he hit .289 with an .827 OPS over his final 101 games and led the team in home runs. He also went 5-for-13 with a homer in the postseason, reinforcing the belief that his best baseball might still be ahead.

Story could have entered free agency this offseason and likely came away with more money than what was left on his deal with the Red Sox, with Bo Bichette shifting positions to play third base for the Mets. Bichette was a sought-after commodity, decided on a shorter-term deal with New York, but was seriously pursued by the Phillies. Ha-Seong Kim was limited to a one-year deal with the Braves after an injury-plagued 2025, Story may have had an opportunity to help set the market at shortstop. He acknowledged discussions with his agent, Wasserman’s Joel Wolfe, but the possibility never seriously tempted him. 

“There could have been a market out there where I get more money,” Story said. “But it wasn’t about that for me. I felt like I came here for a reason. It’s the unfinished business side of it. The promise of our team, the young guys coming up, and the additions that we made play even more into that.”

“I’m just in love with this place, man,” he said. “We have a special group. It’s a great organization, and I believe in the guys. I believe in the team we have—and that’s really what it was about.”

With Alex Bregman and Rob Refsnyder gone, Story’s presence in 2026 carries even greater weight. He has long been a respected voice in the clubhouse. Now, he is expected to be the voice.

“I’ve always felt comfortable (as a leader),” Story said earlier this week. “But it means more when you’re out there healthy playing and you can post with the guys.”

On the field, he will anchor a new-look infield. Willson Contreras is projected at first base, while Caleb Durbin and Marcelo Mayer are expected to factor in at second and third.

“Ideally, you’d like to get a full spring camp in with the infield unit just to go over communication style and what guys like,” Story said. “Hopefully sooner rather than later; I think that’s better for everybody.”

Defense remains a priority after Boston finished near the bottom of the league in recent seasons. Story believes progress was made but knows there’s more to unlock with this group of players. 

“There’s always levels to it,” he said. “We’re always pushing. With the staff that we have, we’re going to get a lot of ground balls. So we’re looking to turn those into outs every single time. It’s an exciting time to build on what we did last year.”

Roman to the WBC

Roman Anthony will get a chance to showcase his talents on the grand stage in front of the fans for the World Baseball Classic.

If Anthony passes the physical, he is expected to join Team USA for the WBC next month. The Red Sox will get a definite word soon as to whether Anthony will partake in the tournament.

Anthony was named as a replacement for Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll, who suffered a broken hamate bone. It’s clear that the young star was Team USA’s manager Mark DeRosa’s top pick to replace Carroll. Anthony will play alongside reliever Garrett Whitlock, who was an early pick for the team’s bullpen.

The Red Sox could be without Anthony for a few weeks in camp. Team USA’s first game is set for March 6 in Houston. The WBC championship game will be held on March 17 in Miami.

“It’s what we decide we want to do,” Cora said. “If the guys are healthy and they’re willing to play, we’re good with it. They’re going to be playing baseball here, and it (injuries) can happen ... Hopefully, whoever goes, they stay healthy and they come back.”

Anthony last played a game as a rookie on September 2 and missed the final month of the regular season and postseason due to an oblique strain. Due to the injury, it was speculated that Anthony wasn’t going to be a realistic option for the WBC.

“I would say that’s out of play,” Anthony said last month when asked about playing in the WBC. “There’s a lot of noise that I’ve heard, but for me, the goal after this year was, ‘Hey, I ended on an injury. I don’t want to rush into something.’ I think this was on both ends, not just my side. This is gonna be the first full year of a big league season. It’s important we take advantage of spring and this offseason going into spring training.”

With Anthony potentially heading to the tournament, it will open the door for Kristian Campbell to get an extended look in spring training, particularly in left field.

“He’s going to play mostly outfield,” Cora told reporters. “But we cannot forget about the infield part of it because you never know what can happen … All his work will be in the outfield. Individual work will be with [infield coordinator José Flores] whenever. That’s what we’re doing.”

Campbell’s days at second base are likely over, but he will still get time at the position.

“Last year, he made a team because we thought he was going to hit,” Cora said. “He hit a little bit. And then he struggled, and he knows it. And now it’s just a matter of hopefully the adjustments he made and the suggestions that we gave him can translate in between the lines. In the cage, in BP, it looks great. Now we have to do it in the game.”

Boston’s outfield remains crowded with Duran, Anthony, Rafaela, and Abreu all vying for regular playing time. Campbell will have a great opportunity with Anthony and Duran playing in the WBC in order to showcase his talents.

“If we get this [offense] back, we can find at-bats,” Cora said. “That’s his tool — offense. And for a month there, we were very excited. Then the league caught up with him. It took us a while to make adjustments, but he’s in a good spot now. … It’s a different setup. The mindset is still the same: Hit the ball hard.”

Extension Chatter?

The Red Sox have become more proactive about locking up young talent under chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. During his tenure leading baseball operations, Breslow has already secured long-term deals with Brayan Bello, Rafaela, Garrett Crochet, Campbell, and Anthony.

Just one week into spring training, two more young arms — Connelly Early and Payton Tolle — were asked whether the organization had approached them about potential extensions.

“We’re always thinking about trying to identify those cornerstone pieces and preserve them for as long as possible,” Breslow said. “We’ll see if anything is able to get over the line, but it’s always something that’s part of our strategy for building a sustainable, winning organization.”

The Red Sox already boast a strong core under contract, and if Early and Tolle were to put pen to paper this spring, they would join that long-term foundation.

“I think we have to look at each of those in isolation,” Breslow added. “If there are extensions that make sense — if there are players we think we want to keep around for a really long time and there’s something that’s fair for the player and fair for the organization — it’s something we should do.”

Both Early and Tolle are expected to impact Boston at some point this season, with the two left-handers likely opening the year in the Triple-A Worcester rotation. As of this week, however, neither has been approached about an extension.

“I haven’t spoken at all about that,” Early said. “I think it’s more that I have to be able to go out there and show what I can do for a longer amount of time before that’s even a consideration.”

Tolle echoed a similar sentiment about an extension. 

“Not that I know of,” Tolle said. “I’ve really enjoyed this organization and whatever happens, happens. I try not to worry about that stuff. Being a part of this group has been very special to me.”

For now, the extension talks are just water cooler chatter but could resume later in camp — but given Breslow’s track record, it’s clear the Red Sox are willing to act early when they believe they’ve identified additional pieces for the 26-man roster.

MiLB Backfield Notes 

Red Sox pitching prospect Brandon Neely has yet to throw a professional pitch since being selected in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft. The right-hander was shut down with forearm stiffness shortly after signing but appears healthy this spring in Fort Myers. Neely threw a live batting practice session on Friday, facing Yoeilin Cespedes and Justin Gonzalez.

There’s no official word yet on where his velocity was sitting during the session, but the early takeaway is that Neely looks healthy. While he was primarily used as a closer in college, there is growing belief the Boston Red Sox could develop him as a starter. He’s expected to open the season with Low-A Salem.

Meanwhile, Red Sox first-round pick Kyson Witherspoon was reportedly touching 97 mph during his live session Friday. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound right-hander is coming off a dominant final season at Oklahoma, where he posted a 10–4 record with a 2.65 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 124 strikeouts, and just 23 walks across 95 innings (16 starts).

Witherspoon profiles as the type of strike-throwing power arm the Red Sox covet. He pairs upper-90s velocity with strong shape on his secondary pitches, and evaluators view him as a potential fast riser within the system. He could follow a similar developmental trajectory to Payton Tolle last season. Witherspoon is expected to begin the year at High-A, with a quick move to Double-A Portland firmly within reach if he continues to pound the strike zone and refine his secondaries.

Another arm drawing attention in Fort Myers is third-round pick Anthony Eyanson, who was lighting up the radar gun at 95–97 mph during his throwing session. At LSU, Eyanson typically sat 92–94 mph, touching 97.7 as a junior. He features a four-pitch mix—fastball, slider, curveball, and changeup—and scouts have described all four offerings as above-average or better.

News and Notes Around the League

The Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos, and just two days later he landed a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres. Philadelphia will absorb the final year of his $20 million salary, while San Diego is responsible for just under $1 million — a low-risk gamble for a veteran bat.

The Padres were searching for additional lineup depth, and Castellanos provides experience, though his production has dipped over the past two seasons. Once a middle-of-the-order force and a 2023 All-Star, his offensive consistency has wavered, contributing to a messy end to his tenure in Philadelphia as the club explored ways to shed his salary.

In San Diego, Castellanos is expected to see most of his time at designated hitter, with the outfield corners largely spoken for. However, the Padres also plan to give him work at first base. Though he logged some reps there last season in Philadelphia, he has yet to appear at the position in a major league game.

Gavin Sheets remains the projected everyday first baseman, but Castellanos could factor in against left-handed pitching. In those matchups, Castellanos might draw the start at first while Miguel Andújar handles designated hitter duties. Additionally, when one of San Diego’s regular outfielders rotates through the DH spot, Castellanos provides corner-outfield coverage.

Now in sunny California, Castellanos gets a fresh opportunity — and the Padres get a low-cost, upside bet on a veteran looking to rediscover his swing.

“I think he’s going to come in here, and we’re all going to look at him as a new human being,” Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill said. “That was the Phillies, and we’re the San Diego Padres. I’m just happy to have him.”

The Arizona Diamondbacks brought back veteran right-hander Zac Gallen on a one-year, $22.05 million deal that includes $14 million in deferrals. The structure positions Gallen to bet on himself, aiming for a rebound season before re-entering free agency next winter.

Gallen has long been a cornerstone of Arizona’s rotation. He posted a dominant 2.51 ERA in 2022 and followed that with a 3.47 ERA across 210 innings in 2023. However, his performance has trended downward the past two seasons. A hamstring strain sidelined him for a month in 2024, though he still managed a 14–6 record with a 3.65 ERA. In 2025, his ERA ballooned to a career-high 4.83 while his strikeout rate dipped to a career-low 21.5%. 

Meanwhile, new Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz is set to return to the World Baseball Classic — the same tournament where he suffered a devastating patellar tendon tear after recording the final out for Puerto Rico three years ago.

“It wasn't in my mind,” Díaz said after a Dodgers workout Saturday. “I have the chance to play in front of Puerto Rico. That was an easy decision.”

Díaz was famously carried off the field in tears after clinching a quarterfinal berth in 2023, missing the entire ensuing season. He returned fully healthy in 2024 and delivered one of the best campaigns of his career in 2025, posting a 1.63 ERA, collecting 48 saves, and earning his third All-Star selection.

In December, Díaz signed a three-year, $69 million deal with Los Angeles, joining a Dodgers club chasing a third consecutive World Series title. Now, he’ll once again take the mound for Puerto Rico — this time hoping the celebration ends differently.