Triston Casas, the Red Sox’s first baseman, has been the focus of numerous trade rumors this offseason, even though chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has repeatedly stated that Casas is not on the trading block. However, with Boston reportedly exploring the markets for infield stars Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado, it’s easy to speculate how adding another big bat might push Casas out of the picture.
Despite the speculation, Casas, who will soon turn 25, isn’t letting the chatter affect him. As reported by Christopher Smith of MassLive, Casas acknowledged the possibility of being traded if the right deal arises, suggesting it could be in the organization’s “best interest.”
He also shared that the Red Sox have reassured him that the rumors lack substance. Casas emphasized that the trade talk doesn’t bother him, expressing his love for Boston and its fans, who have supported him since the start of his professional career.
“I love Boston,” Casas said, as quoted by Smith. “I’d love to play here as long as possible. The fans have always welcomed me generously. But if I end up elsewhere, my focus is on playing Major League Baseball come March 28, no matter where that is.”
Casas also revealed that while the rumors don’t weigh on him, extension talks with the team haven’t progressed since last winter. Speaking at the team’s Fenway Fest, Casas told reporters, including Rob Bradford of WEEI, that there have been no discussions about a long-term deal since those initial talks fizzled out nearly a year ago.
This lack of extension talks isn’t entirely surprising after a challenging 2024 season for Casas. He missed significant time due to torn cartilage in his ribcage and posted a .241/.337/.462 slash line, with a wRC+ of 119 and a concerning 31.7% strikeout rate—a noticeable step back from the 130 wRC+ he recorded in 2023. Both Casas and the Red Sox likely want more clarity about his performance and health before committing to a long-term deal.
As for the potential pursuit of Bregman or Arenado, any acquisition could lead to positional changes within the Red Sox infield. If one of those players were to join Boston at third base, it could prompt a move of current third baseman Rafael Devers to first base, potentially impacting Casas’s future with the team. However, according to manager Alex Cora, the team hasn’t yet discussed such a positional shift with Devers. Breslow also indicated last month that there are currently no plans to move Devers from third base.
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