The Red Sox found their outfielder ... across the ocean.
Looking to augment Alex Verdugo and Kiké Hernandez, presumably with a corner outfielder, the Red Sox took the plunge on Masataka Yoshida of Orix in the Japan Pacific League.
According to reports, the deal will be for five years and more than $90 million. The Red Sox will pay Orix a $15.5 million posting fee, bringing the total deal for Yoshida to over $100 million.
Yoshida is an on-base/contact maven with an OBP of .449, and OPS of 1.007 this season. He batted .336 and struck out just 42 times in 515 plate appearances.
Yoshida, 29, is an on-base machine who led Nippon Professional Baseball in OPS the last two seasons. His bat-to-ball skills are absolutely world-class: just 41 strikeouts in 508 plate appearances, with 80 walks. Only Luis Arraez had a lower strikeout rate in MLB last season.
More to come.