Red Sox reportedly offered Triston Casas in potential salary-clearing trade for Mariners pitcher
Boston was also willing to give up Masataka Yoshida in a potential trade for Luis Castillo, MLB.com reported.
Triston Casas’s spot on the Red Sox seems to be safe after the team acquired a trio of starting pitchers, but they were willing to let him go for more than just pitching help.
Boston offered Casas along with Masataka Yoshida in a potential deal for Seattle right-handed pitcher Luis Castillo, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported. In addition to trading Casas and Yoshida, the Red Sox also wanted the Mariners to absorb the three years and $55.8 million remaining on Yoshida’s contract, according to Feinsand.
It had been previously reported that the Red Sox pursued Castillo during the week of the Winter Meetings as they were eyeing one of the Mariners’ pitchers. The Red Sox actually believed they “were in reach” of acquiring Castillo, along with Garrett Crochet, during the meetings, The Boston Globe‘s Alex Speier reported on Monday.
However, trade talks fell as the Red Sox would only agree to trade Casas for Castillo in the scenario where the Mariners would also take Yoshida, according to Feinsand.
Casas, who turns 25 in January, had been presumed to be the Red Sox’ long-term first baseman since he emerged as the team’s best hitting prospect a few years ago. He seemed to solidify that presumption with his hitting as a rookie in 2023, posting a .263 batting average, .856 OPS, 24 home runs, and 65 RBIs after a strong second half of the season.
The 2024 season was a bit different for Casas, though. He missed a few months due to a rib injury, but he’s still put up good numbers at the plate as he hit .241 with an .800 OPS and 13 homers in 63 games.
Still, the Red Sox were willing to move Casas for pitching help earlier in the offseason, Speier reported in early December. After the trade for Crochet along with the signings of Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval, Boston is reportedly unlikely to move Casas.
As for Yoshida, he’s been one of the league’s better contact hitters since the Red Sox signed him ahead of the 2023 season. He’s at least .280 over the last two seasons. But the Red Sox primarily made him a designated hitter in 2024 due to his fielding woes in 2023. He also hasn’t displayed tremendous power, hitting 25 homers in 248 career games, making him a relatively expensive option for a primary designated hitter considering his production.
It wasn’t reported how much of Castillo’s contract would’ve picked up in the potential deal. Castillo is owed $68.25 million over the next three seasons, so Boston would’ve added slightly more to its payroll in the proposed trade while creating some position flexibility.
Now, the Red Sox’ focus has seemingly turned to getting some hitting help. Chief base officer Craig Breslow has stated that he wants to add another right-handed hitter this offseason. The team has been linked to former Astros third baseman Alex Bregman, who might have lost another potential suitor on Friday after the Tigers signed Gleyber Torres.
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