Little tidbit

[SteveLV]

Have a buddy who is very wired into the Patriots and also to some extent with the BoSox.

Tristan Casas is expected to start in AAA after 2 straight years of knee injuries with no guarantee of a call up, and now the BoSox go out and get Contreras.  Buddy is hearing that Casas is looking for a "fresh start" somewhere else.

Asking price can't be high given the injury history, poor MLB hitting last 2 years (limited PA's due to injuries) and generally poor fielding before injury.

Risk is bad knee on a big man, 6'4" and 250 pounds.

Have no idea what it would take, but this seems like a player for our Island of Misfit Toys here in Minny:  Cheap, some upside, nothing much to lose and opportunity to play.

Thoughts?

[Parfigliano]

Casas.  Does TC need another broken down no hit no D player?

No.

[SteveLV]

Yeah, probably made more sense before they made their big signing of Bell.  ;)

I am pulling for Casas, seems like a very good guy, just got to get healthy.

Realistically DH/1B type only.  But I would rather give him PA's than 350 to Clemens.......

[old nurse]

What did Boston see that made them go out and find a different 1B?  Yup, the Twins could probably pick up Casas pretty cheaply. By next winter. All the Clemens posts could be recycled with Casas’ name on them. 

[bunsen82]

9 hours ago, SteveLV said:

Yeah, probably made more sense before they made their big signing of Bell.  ;)

I am pulling for Casas, seems like a very good guy, just got to get healthy.

Realistically DH/1B type only.  But I would rather give him PA's than 350 to Clemens.......

The only thing I wonder is if Clemens is being viewed as a 2nd baseman  and Keaschall primarily outfield.  You could then have a Bell and another 1st baseman.  There are lots of 1st base DH players that need homes likely pretty cheaply contracts or trades.  

[Chembry]

Casas is a young 1B who has consistently posted above average OPS+ numbers.  He is still only 25 (for a few more weeks), but a career 118 OPS+.  He won't blow anyone away with BA, but will consistently post a BA that is league average, while having well above average OBP and SLG numbers.  Yes, he is slow and has similar defensive numbers as Josh Bell.  But he could immediately contribute to the lineup and be a presence for several years and will be cheap this year.  Projected arbitration salary is $1.7M. You can't get that sort of production on the open market for that cheap.  It is definitely a buy low situation for Casas.

Yes, he is a LHH 1B, but career splits are virtually identical, albeit a much smaller sample size for LHP:

vs RHP: 757 PA, .241/.345/.452/.796

vs LHP: 195 PA, .242/.359/.455/.814

I am not saying the Twins should go out and trade for Casas, although I wouldn't be upset about it.  The Twins tried to get Casas last offseason (2024-2025), but the Red Sox wanted Ryan in return.  The question is, is it worth a lottery ticket prospect for a high upside, with a freak injury history?    

https://www.si.com/mlb/red-sox/onsi/boston-red-sox-news/red-sox-love-twins-all-star-asked-for-him-in-triston-casas-talks-report-jackson3

Side note- I don't know if any of you here have watched "Clubhouse: A year with the Red Sox" on Netflix.  If you haven't, I highly recommend.  It's a fantastic look into the clubhouse, ups and downs of the year, and just what players deal with on and off the field.  Jarren Duran and Triston Casas are highlighted a lot in that show.   

[tony&rodney]

Julien for Casas. Fresh start for both.

[Riverbrian]

4 minutes ago, Chembry said:

Casas is a young 1B who has consistently posted above average OPS+ numbers.  He is still only 25 (for a few more weeks), but a career 118 OPS+.  He won't blow anyone away with BA, but will consistently post a BA that is league average, while having well above average OBP and SLG numbers.  Yes, he is slow and has similar defensive numbers as Josh Bell.  But he could immediately contribute to the lineup and be a presence for several years and will be cheap this year.  Projected arbitration salary is $1.7M. You can't get that sort of production on the open market for that cheap.  It is definitely a buy low situation for Casas.

Yes, he is a LHH 1B, but career splits are virtually identical, albeit a much smaller sample size for LHP:

vs RHP: 757 PA, .241/.345/.452/.796

vs LHP: 195 PA, .242/.359/.455/.814

I am not saying the Twins should go out and trade for Casas, although I wouldn't be upset about it.  The Twins tried to get Casas last offseason (2024-2025), but the Red Sox wanted Ryan in return.  The question is, is it worth a lottery ticket prospect for a high upside, with a freak injury history?    

https://www.si.com/mlb/red-sox/onsi/boston-red-sox-news/red-sox-love-twins-all-star-asked-for-him-in-triston-casas-talks-report-jackson3

Side note- I don't know if any of you here have watched "Clubhouse: A year with the Red Sox" on Netflix.  If you haven't, I highly recommend.  It's a fantastic look into the clubhouse, ups and downs of the year, and just what players deal with on and off the field.  Jarren Duran and Triston Casas are highlighted a lot in that show.   

I really really like Casas as a hitter. I also don't fret the defense reports on him. 

The thing that makes me pause on Casas is his injury history. 

And now Josh Bell makes me pause. 

[Chembry]

1 minute ago, Riverbrian said:

I really really like Casas as a hitter. I also don't fret the defense reports on him. 

The thing that makes me pause on Casas is his injury history. 

And now Josh Bell makes me pause. 

I also like Casas as a hitter.  Is it worth a lottery ticket prospect for a high upside 1B?  I don't know, but I do think it's worth taking a hard look.

The injury history is weird.  His rib cartilage injury was documented in the Netflix series.  Casas swings hard and tore cartilage during a swing.  His knee injury didn't happen while running.  He stepped on 1B with his right leg and his left leg caught Ty Frances' leg while crossing the bag.  That tripped him up and his left knee hit the ground really hard rupturing his patellar tendon.  I would call those freak injuries, but injuries nonetheless.  

[Riverbrian]

5 minutes ago, Chembry said:

I also like Casas as a hitter.  Is it worth a lottery ticket prospect for a high upside 1B?  I don't know, but I do think it's worth taking a hard look.

The injury history is weird.  His rib cartilage injury was documented in the Netflix series.  Casas swings hard and tore cartilage during a swing.  His knee injury didn't happen while running.  He stepped on 1B with his right leg and his left leg caught Ty Frances' leg while crossing the bag.  That tripped him up and his left knee hit the ground really hard rupturing his patellar tendon.  I would call those freak injuries, but injuries nonetheless.  

I have no idea but I'm not sure the Red Sox would trade him for a lottery ticket. 

If I had to guess... If the Red Sox are entertaining trading Casas and they just might be since the Red Sox roster appears to be under serious reconstruction and Contreras has arrived. 

However... I assume the Red Sox are going to have to complete more of the reconstruction project before moving Casas.  

Yeah... they signed Contreras but... what will they do with Duran or Abreu or Yoshida? They'd love to shed Yoshida I assume that opens up DH.  

Do they trade for Marte? A Marte trade may be a huge team context changing deal that will require followup deals to fill the pieces dealt away to Arizona. Maybe Casas is part of trade discussions with the D-Backs for Marte?   

Do they sign Bregman or Bichette. 

Casas with the Twins. I'd choose him over Bell but the Twins have chosen Bell. 

  

[Mike Sixel]

I mean, they have Josh "the savior" Bell now.....There isn't room for Casas and his 2 million dollar salary (less than Bells by 5 MM), and his multiple years of control.