Among the reactions I saw to losing the Wild Card online, I saw a lot of people complaining about the lack of offense, which was valid. Without Roman Anthony, and without any of our other bats getting hot enough to do anything substantial (aside from Trevor Story), the Sox were overmatched against the Yankees pitching, whether they were hitting homers or not. The failure to add a power hitter at the deadline didn’t help. People were also talking about Rafael Devers’ absence, which was also noteworthy, but given that we got to the Wild Card mostly without him, I think Devers absence isn’t what doomed the team this year. And while injuries to some of our key players was a huge factor, it was not the only one.
And speaking of injuries…we’re talking about needing a big bat…why isn’t anyone talking about Triston Casas? A lefty power hitter with a great eye? Is it because the Red Sox didn’t actually need him to make the playoffs? But how much better would we have been with him on the roster, though, right?
I’m not saying we shouldn’t get add more to the lineup; we’d always benefit from that. But it’s not like we have nobody else. Casas, when healthy and productive, is power. He was a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2023, had a good 2024 before getting hurt that July, came back and wasn’t bad by any means, and then he was just starting to warm up again before he got hurt this year. He’s young and his potential is still very much there. A healthy Triston Casas could provide a ton of offensive assistance next year, plus decent first-base defense. And I like the guy! I know not everybody does, but I think he brings really good energy to the clubhouse. I haven’t seen evidence otherwise, aside from that one vet back in 2022.
Provided the front office holds onto him, Casas should continue to be considered part of the Red Sox’s future. It may also make sense to move on from him for someone with a better (and healthier) track record (and better health), but I’d prefer it if we held onto Casas. His future with the Red Sox may still be bright yet.
