The Red Sox are heading into an offseason that could force some hard choices on the 40-man roster, and Triston Casas is suddenly sitting right in the middle of that conversation.
Not long ago, the idea of the former fan favorite first baseman being non-tendered would have sounded absurd. Now, it’s being discussed as a real possibility. Casas, 26, hasn’t played in a ballgame in 17 months, and there’s no clear answer yet on whether he’ll be ready by Opening Day after another injury ended his season.
Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe said the possibility has to be considered. On Monday, he pointed to the numbers and the roster squeeze that could make Casas expendable.
"Triston Casas would not be costly at $1.7 million (according to MLB Trade Rumors' projections)," wrote Abraham. "But the 40-man roster spot could be more valuable at this stage, given that he has not appeared in a game since May 2, 2025, because of injuries."
For Casas, it’s a brutal turn after what once looked like a breakout rise. His 2023 season, when he was one of the best hitters in the majors after the All-Star break and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting, feels distant now. Since then, the injuries have piled up.
A patellar tendon tear last May set off the latest stretch of setbacks. The knee rehab was followed by an intercostal strain that stalled his recovery this spring, and then a wrist injury in August required arthroscopic surgery.
Even if he does return, the path to playing time isn’t simple. Willson Contreras is locked in as the starting first baseman, which would leave Casas fighting for designated hitter at-bats.
Boston also has seven players on the 60-day injured list to sort through once the World Series ends, Casas among them. That alone makes tough decisions unavoidable. And if the Red Sox don’t want to carry him, there’s another route: trading Casas for pennies on the dollar over the next month or two.
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