The Alex Cora spring training kickoff press conference
As the Red Sox begin spring training, there was still some mystery regarding who exactly would be manning the designated hitter spot for the Red Sox in 2024.
Last year's primary option, Justin Turner, has moved on to Toronto. Another free agent possibility (who was never a chief target of the Red Sox), Jorge Soler, just agreed to three-year deal with the Giants. And with Craig Breslow's desire to incorporate some defensive flexibility into the spot, the likelihood of a J.D. Martinez reunion looks slim.
Speaking with the media at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Fla., Red Sox manager Alex Cora definitively presented his club's current plan for the position.
"Masa Yoshida," Cora said when asked who might man the DH spot. He added, "I'm not saying he's the DH, but out of the group he will get the most at-bats in that position."
Yoshida did get the second-most plate appearances (205) at DH behind Turner, hitting .255 with a .705 OPS and three home runs while in that spot.
The maneuvering would free up time for superior defensive outfielders such as Jarren Duran, Tyler O'Neill, Rob Refsnyder and potentially Ceddanne Rafaela.
The Red Sox were one of eight teams with a player to reach more than 400 plate appearances at DH. The others to garner more time at DH than Turner included Shohei Ohtani (Angels), Marcel Ozuna (Braves), Joey Meneses (Nationals), Martinez (Dodgers), Soler (Marlins), Andrew McCutchen (Pirates), and Eloy Jimenez (White Sox).