The Boston Red Sox need to bolster their squad this offseason to remain competitive in the AL East. Moreover, one analyst believes that one name makes sense over another to help the Red Sox cover a gap at first base.
Casas looked like a promising player for the Red Sox after a standout rookie season and a strong finish to 2023. His talent has never been in question when he’s been available, but injuries have kept him out for 230 games over the past two years.
Moreover, a torn patellar tendon in his left knee in May limited him to just 29 games this season; as a result, his future in Boston is uncertain, and the Red Sox could be looking for a more reliable first baseman.
MLB Network’s Jared Carrabis believes that because Boston has this question mark at first base, Pete Alonso and not Kyle Schwarber make sense for the Red Sox.
“At first base, we don’t know what Tristan Casas is going to be,” Carrabis said during an appearance on MLB Network on November 14. “We haven’t really known what he’s been since 2023. So if the Red Sox need a first basement, Pete Alonso seems to be a perfect fit. They need a power bat. I think it’s a little annoying to have that conversation of, ‘Well, the Red Sox really need to add a middle of the order bat.’ It’s like, well, you had one, and you flub that situation.”
Pete Alonso Gives Red Sox Flexibility With the DH
Furthermore, Carrabis notes that not only does Alonso fill the uncertainty at first base, but he wouldn’t take up the designated hitter spot full-time like Schwarber.
“I think when the Red Sox look at their roster and the flexibility, if you added someone like Schwarber, you still have Masataka Yoshida. You’ve got to figure out the fluidity of your DH situation. They’ve been trying to do something with him for the last couple of years now. It’s not exactly the most movable contract.
“But the thing with Pete Alonso, right-handed bat, plays well at Fenway. You need someone [who] can actually play first base. There’s been a lot of criticism, I guess, about Alonso’s defense at first base, but really, all the Red Sox need is someone [who] can pick it.
“If you bring back [Alex] Bregman, you bring back Trevor Story, I’m perfectly satisfied with a first baseman that can pick the one hoppers over at first base, go out there and slug in the middle of the order. That’s exactly what they need.”
What Will the Red Sox Do With Tristan Casas?
If the Red Sox do bring in someone like Alonso, the next question will be what do they do with Casas? On November 13, Jim Bowden of The Athletic shed light on a potential solution that Boston could have.
Bowden suggested that Casas is “likely“ to be traded in the near future, but noted it may not happen before the season begins since the young slugger hasn’t fully demonstrated he’s back to full health.
“Boston’s incumbent first baseman, Triston Casas, is coming off of two injury-marred seasons,“ Bowden wrote. “He isn’t viewed as the surefire first baseman of the future in Boston like he was a few years ago, and it’s likely he’s traded either this spring or at the July deadline.
“Of course, he needs to prove to other teams he’s fully recovered from his ruptured patella tendon to get equal value back in a deal, so a trade isn’t likely to happen before at least spring training. Regardless, Casas’ presence on the roster wouldn’t prevent the Red Sox from targeting a longer-term solution at first base.”
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