The Boston Red Sox are still in pursuit of their elusive solution to their lineup struggles, a pursuit that could lead them to make some tough decisions along the way. Since the middle of last season, it has been clear that the team’s biggest shortcoming is a lack of right-handed hitting. This weakness prompted a failed trade for catcher Danny Jansen at the trade deadline, and now, as the team looks toward the off-season, the issue is pushing them to explore options in both the free-agent and trade markets.
While it’s widely agreed that the Red Sox need a right-handed hitter to bolster their lineup, the team is faced with a delicate situation. They have several key left-handed hitters who are well established in their positions, making it difficult to move them without creating further problems. The recent news that two of the top right-handed hitters on the market, Alex Bregman and Nolan Arenado, both play the same position only complicates matters. The Red Sox now find themselves facing a dilemma.
Zach Pressnell of FanSided recently analyzed this situation, listing the Red Sox among the top three teams interested in Arenado, the eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove third baseman. Pressnell speculated that in order to acquire Arenado, the Red Sox would likely need to trade first baseman Triston Casas, a player they have high hopes for. According to Pressnell, if the Cardinals were to absorb a significant portion of Arenado’s $52 million remaining salary, the Red Sox could be more inclined to make the trade. This would free up space to potentially deal Casas for a much-needed starting pitcher, like Luis Castillo or George Kirby from the Seattle Mariners, or even for a pitcher like Dylan Cease, who has the potential to win a Cy Young.
On the surface, this approach seems reasonable: reshuffle the lineup, move a valuable asset, and address the team’s biggest needs. However, the problem with this strategy is that Triston Casas is already a very good player, and his future potential is even more promising. While the Red Sox’s lineup might benefit from the addition of a right-handed bat, it’s hard to justify sacrificing a young, talented first baseman who could improve significantly in the years to come. There are certainly some valid reasons for wanting to make a trade, like the need to break up the lefty-heavy lineup and the undeniable defensive superiority of Arenado over Rafael Devers at third base. But it’s concerning to think that parting with Casas could become a decision the Red Sox regret for many years.
It remains to be seen whether a trade for Arenado will materialize or if the Red Sox will instead target more pitching. However, the prospect of trading away a player with as much promise as Casas carries significant risk, one that could have long-lasting repercussions for the team.
