The Boston Red Sox have too many outfielders.
That's why, basically from the moment the offseason began, they've been projected to trade one of Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu.
Both Duran and Abreu could return quality value, either for an infield corner spot or a starting pitcher. But they haven't been moved yet, with the trade market across MLB moving pretty slowly.
The Red Sox don't really have a path to not making a move, though, and that's due in part to the presence of Masataka Yoshida, another outfielder who is more reasonably used as a left-handed-hitting DH.
"The Red Sox will want value for Duran, even if their outfield glut is untenable so long as Masataka Yoshida is in Boston," ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote on Thursday.
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Untenable is a good word for it from Passan. The Red Sox can't really keep this group together for a new season.
Roman Anthony and Ceddanne Rafaela are guaranteed spots in the outfield. Having three other guys to use between outfield and DH, without even considering other DH candidates, is too many.
The Red Sox already traded away Jhostynxon Garcia this offseason, a young outfielder with a great bat who simply was never going to have room to play.
They almost certainly aren't done. It's a matter of when, and who, and for what, but there is no if about this.
Boston is going to trade another outfielder. It won't be Yoshida, because his value isn't very high, but it will be in part because of him.
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