Weeks before the MLB offseason began, insider Ken Rosenthal sent Boston Red Sox fans into a tizzy by suggesting the team should trade Triston Casas.
The Red Sox are heavily left-handed, and their struggles against lefty pitchers could be mitigated with more right-handed bats in the lineup. Trading Casas could be one of many ways to get more righties in the batting order.
But, when the offseason began, speculations involving the first baseman quieted. Casas' name was nowhere to be found in national trade rumors or predictions. Recently, though, rumors around the first baseman have picked up steam. The new developments have some Sox fans nervous.
Red Sox Nation may have gotten too comfortable with the idea of Casas sticking around after the lull in rumors. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow also addressed the theory that Boston has Casas on the trade block at November's general manager meetings, and it sounds like the team intends to keep him.
"I’m not sure where that’s coming from. . . Casas is a guy that we think has 40-home run potential. He’s young and also has a great strike zone discipline and controls an at-bat. We’re excited he’s on our team,” he said.
Red Sox fans aren't loving the recent trade rumors involving Triston Casas
I love Garrett Crochet and want him on the Red Sox.
— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) November 25, 2024
That said, if it takes Triston Casas to get it done as @JimBowdenGM says here, hard pass from me. pic.twitter.com/CJzLxF2yPn
But Casas recently appeared in MLB insider Jim Bowden's projected trade package if the Red Sox want to land Garrett Crochet from the White Sox. Many Boston fans vehemently opposed the proposed package of Casas, Wilyer Abreu and Connor Wong, mostly due to Casas' inclusion.
Rosenthal recently added the 24-year-old to another projected trade with the Mariners. He said Seattle needs a first baseman and the Red Sox could take one of its young starters, specifically Bryan Woo. The Mariners don't seem willing to dish from their elite rotation, but if they are, the Sox should keep Casas out of the deal.
Casas' trade value is at an all-time low after he spent four months of the 2024 campaign rehabbing a rib injury. He's had well-documented struggles with staying healthy throughout his career, and his latest ailment was a freak accident, but it'd be impossible to get peak value for a player who only posted 63 games last year and never more than 132 in his big-league career. Breslow's comments also suggest that the organization values the slugger highly enough to see how he can produce over another full, healthy season.
The Red Sox could be willing to shop Casas, but they seem to be keeping it quiet. Breslow has previously mentioned that no one is off the table when it comes to trades this winter and many reporters have said that Boston hopes to trade for an elite starting pitcher. The Sox may not be actively looking to dish Casas, but he could be part of a larger deal for a rotation arm they desperately need.
Since the Red Sox have been out of the big-market spending circle for a few years, their moves this offseason could be entirely unpredictable. Based on Breslow's statements, it seems unlikely Boston would trade Casas. But based on the front office's renewed desire to win, anything is possible.