On Tuesday, we learned that Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman will not be playing for team Great Britain in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, which begins on March 4.

On Wednesday, we learned that two more Red Sox players will be playing in the WBC: Outfielder/DH Masataka Yoshida and utility player Nate Eaton. Eaton will be playing for Great Britain. Yoshida also represented Japan in the 2023 event, helping them to win the gold medal over Team USA. He had 13 RBIs in that tournament, the most by a single-player in a single tournament in WBC history.

Now 32 years old, Yoshida signed a five-year deal with the Red Sox before that 2023 season. A solid bat-to-ball player, he had a good rookie season, hitting .289 with a .338 on-base percentage in 140 games. He's armed with decent power, as he hit 15 homers and drove in 72.

However, he's had trouble staying healthy since then, as he played only 108 games in 2024 (10 homers, 56 RBIs). He played just 55 games in 2025, hitting only .266 with four home runs.

At his best, he's an integral part of the lineup, but we haven't seen him at his best since that 2023 campaign.

He's due about $36 million over the next two seasons. Because he's generally regarded as a DH-only, he's been virtually impossible to trade, leaving the Red Sox with some hard decisions moving forward.

The Red Sox have four outfielders for three outfield spots in Jarren Duran, Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu. Of course, one of those outfielders could rotate through the DH spot, allowing them each to play every day. But where does that leave Yoshida? Will the team keep him as the DH and bench one of the outfielders? Will they move one of the outfielders to accommodate him? Could they trade Yoshida, but have to take on significant money to do it? Could they outright release him? Does Yoshida become a bench bat-only, weakening the versatility of the bench? All those questions will be asked this spring.

Now 29 years old, Eaton has appeared in parts of three big-league seasons with the Kansas City Royals and Red Sox. He played 41 games for the Sox in 2025, hitting .296 with a homer, four RBIs and nine stolen bases. He played 25 games in the outfield and 12 at third base for the Red Sox, meaning he could potentially be another outfield option to further complicate things. And we know the Red Sox are looking for right-handed outfield help.

Potentially significantly. 

Given the questions about both of their roster statuses, Yoshida and Eaton would likely be better served to stay with the Red Sox in camp and try to impress them. However, with neither of them there, other fringe roster candidates will get an opportunity to impress the coaching staff.

Duran, Rafaela, Abreu, Yoshida and Eaton will all be gone from spring training, opening the door for the likes of Kristian Campbell to maybe show what they can do in a multi-positional role.

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