Over the offseason, there was no shortage of trade rumors surrounding the Boston Red Sox. It was mostly involving infielders, especially after Alex Bregman left in free agency for the Chicago Cubs. That decision caught Boston Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow off guard.
At the time, when Bregman agreed to a deal with the Cubs, Breslow’s pivot was starting pitching, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez. That didn’t address the infield need. Boston traded for Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers as Bregman’s Opening Day replacement.
Breslow did a lot of additions through trades, whether it was starting pitching or infield help. The St. Louis Cardinals were a trade partner that added both lineup and pitching help. The first trade acquired right-hander Sonny Grey, while the second trade acquired first baseman Willson Contreras. That move might spell the end of a once-promising prospect in Boston.
Boston Red Sox First Baseman Triston Casas Listed as Trade Candidate
Last May, Triston Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon running out a ground ball to first base. That cost him the rest of the season and left a hole at the hot corner that manager Alex Cora struggled to fill and get a lot of production out of.
You can understand why Breslow traded for Contreras. Casas won’t be ready for Opening Day, and who knows when he’ll be ready. When he is, there isn’t a defined role for him on this roster, which makes him a trade candidate. Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report listed seven trade candidates this season who could use a change of scenery. Unsurprisingly, Casas was at the top of his list.
“Triston Casas went from top prospect to star on the rise when he hit .317/.417/.617 with 15 home runs in 54 games during the second half of the 2023 season, but his stock has faded in recent years. A fractured rib limited him to 63 games in 2024, but he still flashed significant upside with a 124 OPS+ and 13 home runs,” Reuter wrote.
A big reason Breslow got Contreras was Casas’ injury history. As good a player as he is, he can’t seem to stay healthy. It was announced recently that he won’t play in any Grapefruit League games ahead of the season starting in a couple of weeks.
“This was a major injury, and I’m a great player,” said Casas. “I don’t find any reason to rush this process. Whenever I feel ready to come back is when I’m going to contribute best.”
Triston Casas Future With the Boston Red Sox Remains Up in the Air
You can add Casas to the list of growing players that Breslow could trade. He has a surplus of outfielders he could move, with Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu being the obvious candidates. Roman Anthony and Caddane Rafaela are future building blocks for Boston.
Casas’ injury history might turn teams off, but he finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year race in 2023. He’s arbitration-eligible and controllable through 2029. If a team is looking for a potential long-term player at first base, Casas would certainly draw a lot of interest. It’s not surprising to see Casas’ name pop up as a trade candidate.
Once-Promising Boston Red Sox Prospect Listed as Trade Candidate