The Boston Red Sox didn't add a first baseman before the 2025 MLB trade deadline, which will have implications on the rest of the season and the start of 2026.
After they missed out on Yandy Díaz or Ryan O'Hearn, Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez will continue to platoon at first base for the Red Sox. Neither player is hitting particularly well at the moment — Toro is batting .228/.315/.272 in his last 15 games and Gonzalez is slashing .239/.294/.587 in his last 15 appearances.
Boston could've used an experienced first baseman and power bat for the rest of the season, but the Padres landed O'Hearn and the Rays never traded Díaz. The latter would've been a dream trade candidate for the Red Sox, as he's under team control in the 2026 season.
The Red Sox won't have a clear starting first baseman on Opening Day next year. Triston Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon in early May, and he's been given a recovery timeline of about a year. It could take even longer for him to work his way up to being ready to take the field, and the Red Sox have already said that he may not be the starter when next season comes around.
Red Sox need to find a first baseman to start 2026 after missing out on Yandy Díaz
Without Casas or Díaz in the mix for the start of the 2026 season, Boston will need to sign or trade for a first baseman over the offseason. Toro is with the Red Sox on a minor league deal that will expire at the end of the 2025 campaign and Gonzalez is better suited to a utility or pinch-hitting role than as the everyday first baseman. Boston also traded away its only corner infield prospect approaching MLB-readiness, Blaze Jordan, so it doesn't have an internal option it could use in Casas' stead.
The upcoming class of free agent first basemen has some solid options the Red Sox could pursue. They may not want to sign someone long-term if Casas is still the plan at first base when he's healthy, so Josh Naylor and Pete Alonso, who has an opt-out in his deal with the Mets, may be off the table. Carlos Santana, Josh Bell, Donovan Solano or Ty France could be solid temporary options.
The Red Sox could opt to re-sign Toro, but, despite his great start to the season, that should be unacceptable. Boston keeps promising that it's doing all it can to win championships while signing low-tier, inexperienced players instead of proven ones. Casas could still work out as the long-term first baseman for the Sox, but they should seek someone experienced to start the season while he completes his recovery.