Red Sox's $6 Million Signing Has Ripple Effect for Triston Casas

Will Casas get squeezed out?

Apr 22, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox first base Triston Casas (36) hits a three run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

Bringing in another infielder was always going to have roster consequences, but the Boston Red Sox's agreement with Isiah Kiner-Falefa is especially hard to decode.

Based on the early evidence, it does not appear that the Red Sox view Kiner-Falefa as an everyday player. That's good news in a vacuum, but it still leaves certain issues unresolved.

Necessarily, because Kiner-Falefa got $6 million, he's going to at least have a roster spot as long as he's healthy. And him having that roster spot closes off one potential lane for injured slugger Triston Casas to make his way back into the picture.

If you like our content, choose Sports Illustrated as a preferred source on Google.

Triston Casas: How can he earn his way back?

Apr 20, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas (36) makes a catch for an out against the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images

As MassLive's Sean McAdam put it on Friday, Casas can no longer have a roster spot at any point as long as the currently healthy players remain healthy, and designated hitter Masataka Yoshida is still in the fold. Trading for Willson Contreras, of course, made it unlikely Casas ever reclaims the starting first-base job this year.

"Even before Kiner-Falefa’s role can be determined, there’s this uncomfortable truth: his signing already will impact the Red Sox’ roster construction in the run-up to Opening Day," wrote McAdam.

"Which means the Red Sox, with Kiner-Falefa aboard, don’t have room for a right-handed hitting extra outfielder, like Nate Eaton. They also won’t be able to carry Triston Casas or infield backups like David Hamilton and Nick Sogard."

Casas, of course, is returning from a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee. He is unlikely to be ready to play by opening day, but even if he's optioned to the minors after coming off the injured list, he eventually deserves a route back into the picture.

If there's any issue to take with the Kiner-Falefa signing, it's that he puts too many other potentially valuable players in jeopardy that either seem capable of similar production for a lot less money, or play very different roles. Casas fits that second category, because he'd be one of the few sources of power on the team.

It now seems as if trading Yoshida or someone else unexpectedly getting injured are Casas' only real routes back.

More MLB: Red Sox Lose 27-Year-Old Righty to Rangers in Free Agency