Triston Casas' return could give Red Sox front office trade deadline excuse

The Boston Red Sox front office has been reluctant to disclose its trade deadline strategy. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently shared that his club will choose a "buy" or "sell" lane, but the decision is not yet final.

Breslow has made other statements that lead some to believe the Sox will become buyers. Before Boston's recent bout with the Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball, ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney shared that the Sox are hunting for a starting pitcher and a right-handed impact bat before the deadline.

But the Red Sox are anticipating Triston Casas' return to action in the coming weeks, and he definitely qualifies as a power bat. He initially hoped to get back into action on July 1, but the first baseman had only taken dry swings until the week before the All-Star break.

Casas was scheduled to begin hitting balls off a tee in the week of July 7. He still needs to progress to live batting practice and a rehab assignment before he can be reinstated to the Red Sox roster. A late-July return may be the soonest Casas could be back in action — right around the trade deadline.

The Red Sox have played without Casas since April 20 and have been without his power for almost three months. Boston's recent trade deadline performances have been unimpressive, and some recent comments from John Henry don't have fans optimistic the team will be taking a different approach.

Casas isn't right-handed, but his return around the trade deadline may not bode well for new additions. Some fans fear he could become the power bat the Red Sox hoped to add.

But Casas shouldn't be used as an excuse. Boston's offense will be boosted with the slugging first baseman in the lineup, but the odds he plays every day after such a severe injury are slim.

Red Sox should not use Triston Casas' return as an excuse not to add impact bat before trade deadline

He also may take time to warm up to hitting again — despite taking thousands of swings in his head over his injured list stint. Casas couldn't rotate his body at all for much of his recovery period and he may be rusty at the plate after his return.

The Red Sox need an offensive lift before they make a push for the postseason, and while Casas could bring it, his production is far from guaranteed. A righty would add diversity to Boston's heavily left-handed lineup, and Casas wouldn't help there as a lefty himself.

Casas will be great for the Red Sox's lineup when he's ready to play again. But a team in a wild card spot can't risk a slow start for a returning player in favor of an impact bat that has played all season. The Red Sox need to add at the trade deadline if they hope to crack the postseason, and Casas' return shouldn't distract from the team's needs without him in the lineup.

More Red Sox reads: