1 bold prediction for each American League East team in 2023
By Owen Russell
Boston Red Sox: Masataka Yoshida will live up to his contract
Red Sox fans suffered the loss of shortstop Xander Bogaerts this offseason. Bogaerts, a franchise cornerstone in Boston, left for San Diego with the heftiest of contracts; earning $280 million over 11 years. No single free agent signing could make up for a mistake that size on Boston’s part, but they did bring over an interesting talent from Japan.
Masataka Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million contract. On top of that, Boston paid $15.4 to the Orix Buffaloes of the NPB, Yoshida’s club in Japan, for his player rights. Analysts were confused by the signing. The consensus is that Boston overpaid for the outfielder, but if you delve into the numbers, Boston may have a gem on their hands.
Yoshida is an on-base machine. Since 2017, his OBP never dipped below .400 (topping out at .453 in 2020). Last year the Sox finished sixth in the league in OBP, and Yoshida will only bring that ranking up. Adding a player who walks twice as much as he strikes out can’t hurt. At 29, Yoshida enters the prime of his career. With the Red Sox he will have the chance to play everyday, and if my prediction is right, he will bolster their lineup immensely.
New York Yankees: The Yankees will play in their first World Series since 2009
If you take a minute to think about it, the Yankees have underachieved since the onset of the 2010s. Up until the 2010s, the Bronx Bombers had won an AL Pennant in each decade, dating back to the 1920s. Since then… crickets. Despite power hitting titans like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton populating their lineups, New York has failed to reach the promised land for 14 years. That changes in 2023.
The Yankees did their job this offseason, locking down Judge for the foreseeable future. If that wasn’t enough, the Yanks added pitching ace Carlos Rodón and re-signed first baseman Anthony Rizzo. On paper, the Yankees have a stellar rotation, headed by Gerrit Cole and Rodón. Behind that, the core of their formidable roster which led the league in home runs. The Yankees should make a trade midseason for more help in the outfield (perhaps with Pittsburgh for Bryan Reynolds) and that would fortify their lineup even more.
Their strongest competition may exist within their own division, but if they clinch the AL East, the sky’s the limit. The Houston Astros, the bane of New York’s existence in the past few years, took a step back this offseason, losing Justin Verlander. If New York performs to their capabilities, and meets Houston in the playoffs for a rematch, expect New York to come out on top.