Red Sox deal for Angels first baseman, place Yoshida on 60-day IL first published on NBC Sports Boston
It looks like the Boston Red Sox are considering an other first base option besides Rafael Devers.
Ryan Noda, a first baseman, was traded from the Los Angeles Angels to the Red Sox on Thursday in exchange for cash.
To make room on the roster for Noda, Boston placed outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida on the 60-day disabled list and optioned Noda to Triple-A Worcester.
The 29-year-old, who was the team’s main first baseman for 128 games, made his Major League Baseball debut with the Athletics in 2023 and shown potential as a rookie, recording 16 home runs, 54 RBI, 77 walks, and a.770 OPS. But in 2024, he showed a severe regression, with a.137/.255/.465 slash line with 37 strikeouts in 36 games.
After the 2024 season, Noda was taken off waivers by the Angels, and the Illinois native started the 2025 season with Los Angeles’ Triple-A club until being assigned by the organization on May 18.
Since Triston Casas’ season-ending knee injury on May 2, the Red Sox have gone through many first basemen. The position is presently occupied by Nick Sogard, a Triple-A call-up, however Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro both got action at first base. Even though manager Alex Cora stated that rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell probably won’t be moving to first base anytime soon, Campbell has been practicing at first base.
Rafael Devers is one guy we won’t likely see at first base because, after switching from third base to designated hitter earlier in the season, the Red Sox slugger has refused to move positions once more. It’s probably much less probable that Devers will try his hand at first base now that Noda is in the fold.
After being rained out on Thursday, Boston will face the Baltimore Orioles in a doubleheader at Fenway Park on Friday.
