Masataka Yoshida news feels like Boston is breaking rules after Yankees-Red Sox clash

Disgruntled Red Sox star third baseman Rafael Devers, purportedly, is hurt. At the very least, he's nursing hurt feelings. He was held back this spring by reported shoulder issues, but also by his own insecurity, spending two weeks mulling a trade request before staying back in Florida and missing Boston's exhibition trip to Mexico.

At this point, Devers seems healthy enough to play. If Boston wanted to, though, they could probably start him on the Injured List to begin the season. After all, we have plenty of evidence of him missing time and losing reps, and his shoulder grievance dates back to last season. Boston doesn't want to do that, though, considering Devers is their best player, and they eventually got him to begrudgingly agree to hitting in the DH spot, if that's what the team believes is best. That is, in fact, what the team believes is best.

In terms of wanting a player to hit the IL, Masataka Yoshida is very clearly on the other end of the Red Sox spectrum. Devers is their preferred DH, but they signed Yoshida two years ago to occupy that same role. A world-class hitter with an exceptional handle on the strike zone, Yoshida's been subpar when they've tried him in the outfield in recent seasons. There are plenty of players Boston would rather use to fill Tyler O'Neill's spot, from Roman Anthony to Kristian Campbell to Ceddanne Rafaela. Unfortunately, with Alex Bregman at third and Devers active, it's either the outfield or nothing for Yoshida, who has three additional years on his deal.

Or, of course, there is a third option: lying.

Yoshida will "most likely" begin the season on the Injured List, according to Sean McAdam's most recent conversation with Sox manager Alex Cora. “We haven’t decided that, but most likely," Cora told McAdam, claiming that when Yoshida returns (if?), he'll be an outfielder, not a DH.

While this decision has felt like a fait accompli for weeks, there's only one issue here: Yoshida played against the Yankees on Tuesday and slammed a two-run home run to deep right-center. It seems as if his offseason labrum surgery has left him an unhealthy outfielder and a perfectly healthy DH. If Boston wanted to cry slow recovery time, then why do they keep running him out there, and why does he keep prove them fraudulent?

Red Sox Masataka Yoshida will start season on IL, even after bashing the Yankees on Tuesday

Wow, Yankees, you let a hobbled guy do that to you? You gave up the equivalent of the Kirk Gibson home run to Yoshida? Look at him! He can barely stand. Shame on you.

Yoshida has 28 at-bats this spring with nine hits, meaning he's treating every team this March the way he typically treats the Yankees. He hasn't been playing exclusively on back fields. He didn't exit Tuesday's contest early. The Red Sox have no plausible deniability here.

Of course, being cheeky with the Injured List isn't a federal crime, and MLB understands that teams do this all the time. They'd never punish one team for improper use of the list while letting other offenses slid – oh. Wait. They put Mets GM Billy Eppler on the ineligible list for all of 2024 for messing with the IL.

From where we stand, we're having a very difficult time figuring out how this is any different. At the very least, can't MLB be a pal and mandate that they put Devers on the IL instead? Sorry, Boston. Don't sign too many DHs, then hope someone else will bail you out by looking the other way as you break the rules. Or, at least, if you're going to lie, don't be so in-your-face about it.

To be fair, though, brashly getting away with things nobody else could is the Boston way.