The Boston Red Sox front office has given mixed messages about Triston Casas' future with the team, which, at this point, seems purposeful.
Casas is a fan-favorite with a big personality and 30-40 home run potential, but his trade value is likely lower than it should be this winter after he missed nearly four months of last season with a rib injury. Boston's chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has been adamant that the team has no plans to shop Casas. Yet, new rumors continue to emerge and reporters attest that he's still being made available to other teams.
The most recent trade rumor involving Casas has the Sox sending him to the Miami Marlins in exchange for pitcher Sandy Alcántara, which picked up steam after MLB Network insider Jon Morosi mentioned Boston's desire to make another big trade on the Jan. 9 episode of "Hot Stove." Morosi did not explicitly name Casas as Boston's potential trade piece, but the many rumors around him caused fans to take off running with speculation.
Alcántara, the 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner, did not pitch in 2024 after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023. He posted a 4.14 ERA with 151 strikeouts and 48 walks over 184.2 innings before the procedure.
Triston Casas trade rumors continue to emerge despite Red Sox front office's statements that he isn't being shopped
The rumors that Alcántara is on the trade block were swiftly shut down, though. Craig Mish, Marlins reporter for Miami Herald, stated that Alcántrara has been assured on multiple occasions that he will not be traded before Opening Day. That doesn't rule out a future arrangement with the Red Sox, but Miami is not expected to move the righty this winter.
There has also been plenty of smoke that Casas will be part of Boston's trade package to land third baseman and righty bat Nolan Arenado. These rumors have been deeply unpopular throughout Red Sox Nation, but the links persist.
Katie Woo of The Athletic reported on Jan. 7 that trade talks involving Arenado have reached a standstill and that his market has quieted down. Arenado has been the Sox's most public trade target recently, and the stall in his market could mean Casas dons a Red Sox uniform for at least another season, but trade rumors don't come from nothing.
The first baseman's heavy presence in rumors likely means that teams in the trade market believe him to be available despite the front office's statements that he isn't. Boston fans will have to wait and see what becomes of the Casas theories with about a month of the offseason remaining.