Ex-Yankees All-Star Would Make Perfect Triston Casas Replacement for Red Sox
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Triston Casas was taken off the field on a stretcher with a knee injury on Friday ight against the Minnesota Twins. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow confirmed that Casas suffered a rupture of the patellar tendon in his left knee and will undergo surgery.
The Red Sox are now looking for a new answer at first base, and according to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, Breslow noted that "all options are on the table." One intriguing option might be former New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Rizzo, 35, is still a free agent and, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, wants to keep playing. Rizzo was acquired by the Yankees in 2021 from the Chicago Cubs. Rizzo was a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover, Silver Slugger, Platinum Glover and World Series champion with the Cubs.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Triston Casas #36 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle...
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Triston Casas #36 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on July 28, 2023 in San Francisco, California. MoreIn three seasons with the Yankees, he slashed .234/.326/.409. His numbers were not great, but injuries played a role. Rizzo has acknowledged the impact injuries have had on his free agency as well.
"Two years ago, I had kind of a weird year with the concussion," Rizzo told Rosenthal. "Then last year, I was hurt twice. My power numbers dropped. I'm surprised, but not like crazy surprised just because I'm a realist in the game and you're getting older. The fact that teams want you to play for basically league minimum ($760,000), I'm like, you guys are crazy. You're almost trying to ruin the market for the next guy."
Rizzo's concussion is where many fans point to when they try to figure out where things went wrong for him in New York. The Red Sox suddenly have a need at first base, and it is not going to take much to replace the production Casas was giving them.
Casas had a .800 OPS in 63 games last season. Coming into this season, fans and the organization had high expectations for him. However, through 29 games, he was slashing .182/.277/.303.
"He certainly struggled through the first month or so of the season but that didn't change what we believed his production was capable of being," Breslow told MassLive.
If the Red Sox do not want to make a panic trade for a first baseman, Rizzo could be an interesting option.
More MLB: Red Sox Send Pitcher With 0.00 ERA Back to Minors in Baffling Roster Move
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