After healthy offseason, Triston Casas is ready to get back into the swing of things for Red Sox

Boston Globe

18-02-2025

'It's squashed and I had a really great offseason,' he said Tuesday. 'It's probably my best one yet, just in terms of health, scheduling, just rhythm, the routine. It was really great.
'I'm in the best shape that I feel like I've been in. All the numbers in the weight room indicated as well. So hopefully it translates so much easier. But for right now, I'm in a really good spot.'
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Because he played only 63 games, Casas considered playing winter ball. He instead took more swings on his own to catch up.
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'This offseason was just a lot about load, trying to get a lot of workload,' Casas said. 'I didn't take a lot of time off after the season, just because I missed so much time. I felt like I missed four months of the season, which is pretty much an offseason.'
Casas acknowledged needing to work on his defense.
'A lot of footwork stuff,' he said. 'Playing first base, sometimes I get too caught up on my glovework instead of just letting my body stay in front of the ball and knock it down and just focused on getting outs.
'I feel like sometimes I try to get a little too swifty with the glove.'
Swifty? That's a new one even for Casas.
Sox add Ottavino
The Sox signed righthanded reliever
Adam Ottavino
to a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training.
The 39-year-old would earn $2 million if he makes the roster. Ottavino also has the right to opt out of the deal if he is not on the major league roster when camp ends.
Ottavino, who played at Northeastern, wants to extend what has been a 14-year major league career. His stops include spending the 2021 season with the Red Sox. He led the team with 69 appearances and had a 4.21 ERA.
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'He took the ball. He was not afraid of the moment. He was a guy with good stuff,' manager
Alex Cora
said.
Ottavino had 60 appearances for the Mets last season with a 4.34 ERA. He averaged 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings, his best mark over a full season since 2019.
'It helps that I've been here before,' Ottavino said. 'I know AC; I know the trainers and a lot of people in the organization … it was kind of a no-brainer.'
The Sox added veteran lefthanders
Liam Hendriks
emerges as the closer,
Justin Slaten
,
Greg Weissert
,
Garrett Whitlock
, and
Josh Winckowski
are among the righthanded options.
'Overall I feel like I'm a better pitcher [than earlier in his career] but not as young,' Ottavino said.
Ottavino has worn No. 0 since 2013.
'For now that's what we're going with,' he said.
Yoshida perseveres
The Sox would prefer
Alex Bregman
plays third base and
Rafael Devers
takes over as the designated hitter. They also have
Wilyer Abreu
,
Jarren Duran
, and
Ceddanne Rafaela
in the outfield with Roman Anthony closing in.
Related
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Where does that leave
Masataka Yoshida
, who has three years and $55.8 million remaining on his contract?
'Masa's going to be part of the picture. We just need to get him going,' Cora said. 'Last year he was a DH; this year we need him to play defense.'
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Via a translator, Yoshida said where he plays is out of his control.
'I'll play where they want me to,' he said.
Yoshida had offseason surgery on his right shoulder in October and just started a throwing program.
'In terms of hitting, I feel 100 percent,' he said. 'Which is pretty good.'
Yoshida was asked if a trade would make sense at this point.
'My job is to give it all my best, whatever my job calls for,' he said. 'If that is to DH or that is to play the outfield, I'm giving it my best. I'm still here on this team.'
Marquee matchup
Garrett Crochet
showed up ready to pitch. He worked two innings and threw 32 pitches on the stadium field. Crochet struck out five of the seven batters he faced.
Trevor Story
homered over the Faux Monster in the second inning. He struck out swinging in the first inning but saw nine pitches. Chapman hit 100 miles per hour during his inning of work. Hendriks allowed a double by
Vaughn Grissom
but came back to strike out Bregman. He was 93-94 with his fastball. 'You can see it stuff-wise. Bunch of big boys over there,' Cora said … Abreu missed the workout with an illness.
Peter Abraham can be reached at