Triston Casas said Saturday he understands why his club brought in another first baseman by acquiring Willson Contreras from the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this winter.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said at the time of the trade Contreras would serve as the club’s primary first baseman, a role previously held by Casas.
“As of right now, the way it is, he’s a better player than me and has been for his entire career,” Casas said Saturday about the Red Sox’s decision to trade for Contreras (h/t MassLive’s Chris Cotillo). “To upgrade at a position that has been deficient for the last two years is exactly what the team needed.”
Casas looked to be on his way toward establishing himself as the Red Sox’s primary first baseman going forward during the 2023 season, which he finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting after slashing .263/.367/.490 through 132 games.
He’s been limited to just 92 games over the following two seasons by injuries, including a rib cage issue that sidelined him for fourth months in 2024 and a torn patellar tendon that ended his 2025 season in May.
Casas still has Minor League options and could theoretically begin the season warming up in Triple-A Worcester, as noted by MLB.com’s Ian Browne.
He could alternatively begin the season as Boston’s designated hitter. Breslow said after acquiring Contreras that the veteran infielder could get reps at DH, potentially opening up the possibility of switching out Contreras and Casas at the two positions.
Either way, Casas might not be available for the start of the season. He said Saturday that returning for Opening Day would be a “tight squeeze,” per Tim Healey of the Boston Globe.
A 12-month recovery timeline for Casas’ knee surgery would put his return at early May, per Healey. Breslow and the Red Sox might have to wait until then to determine how Casas will fit alongside Contreras in the lineup.