Red Sox will not utilize Rafael Devers to change Triston Casas,
BOSTON– With Triston Casas out for the season after bursting the patellar tendon in his left knee, the Red Sox have actually been left scrambling for first base aid. It appears their solution at the position will not include Rafael Devers or leading prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, a minimum of for the time being.In the wake of Casas being stretchered off the field Friday night after suffering the injury running down the first base line, there has actually been some speculation that the Red Sox could have Devers, who was moved off third base to designated player this season, start taking grounders initially. And while chief baseball officer Craig Breslow swore that all choices were on the table when it concerns changing Casas, manager Alex Cora was determined that he wasn’t thinking about having Devers begin finding out a completely unknown position in the middle of the season that has seen him have zero action in the field.”From my end right now, no,” stated Cora.” We asked him to do something in spring training
. In the beginning, he didn’t agree with it. Now, he’s extremely comfy doing what he’s doing. Like I told you guys in spring training, he’s my DH.”It’s not delicate at all, “Cora continued.”We decided. We spoke with him.
He’s a DH.” Rather, the Red Sox will use energy males Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro (who
was called Saturday) in a platoon at the position while scouring the trade, waiver and free agent markets for external options. After Casas went down with torn cartilage in his chest in late April in 2015, Breslow struck rapidly, trading for Garrett Cooper and signing Dom Smith in fast succession. Comparable action could follow this time around.”We clearly began this, this last offseason, attempting to be aggressive in putting a competitive group on the field, “Breslow stated
.”This is sadly an opportunity to explore what is offered. We’ll look both internally and potentially externally as well. “Gonzalez was Casas’backup to start the year and will, for the time being, get the most playing time at first base, Cora stated. Toro,
a switch-hitter who has 365 games of big league experience and published a. 917 OPS in 27 games with Worcester, is a switch-hitter, so he’ll play initially against some right-handed starters while likewise backing up at second base and third.”We’ll give Romy some at-bats. We will. I want to see how it exercises,”Cora stated.” Defensively, he has actually been strong. Offensively, he has been good.
It’s a chance for him to go out there and perform. I don’t desire him to seem like this is it, that this is his opportunity to shine. Simply do your part. Do not try to be somebody you’re not.” “It simply occurred the other day. We’ll talk and we’ll see where we’re at. However I think Romy and Toro, they can do the job. I really believe that, so we’re gon na
roll with them. “Cora doesn’t desire other players to try to find out very first base upon the fly. Connor Wong, Rob Refsnyder and Carlos Narváez have actually played it at various levels but the Red Sox want to keep them in their current spots. It appears unlikely Boston would introduce somebody like Kristian Campbell or Trevor Story to first, either.”We have actually been through that act before, moving people around and playing guys at first base who never ever played first base,”Cora stated.”It wasn’t good. The effort was there.
I appreciated Franchy (Cordero )playing first. Kyle(Schwarber ), naturally, we required to play initially, but he wasn’t a very first baseman. These 2 guys(Gonzalez and Toro )are capable of doing it. I feel extremely comfy with them. The lineup, we have to mix and match and find areas for them where we can take full advantage of the lineup.”It’s a difficult position to play, “he included. “Especially nowadays when you’re pressing that guy to the hole with right-handed players … The picks, the throws,
everything that includes it. It’s a difficult position to play, a tough position to find out. I’m extremely comfy.”For Anthony and Mayer, who are on the verge of the majors, the Red Sox do not wish to change development tracks based on requirement. The first base associates at Triple-A will continue to go to Nick Sogard, Vaughn Grissom and Nathan Hickey, who were passed over for a promo Saturday however remain in the mix as depth.” Both of those guys (Anthony and Mayer )clearly are showing the ability to impact both sides of the ball, “stated Breslow.”Offered the intense features that they have ahead of them at their particular
positions, introducing extra variables does not make a ton of sense today.”It won’t be a surprise to see Breslow and the Red Sox make an addition in the coming days. They could, for the 2nd straight year, turn to the opt-out market for somebody like Smith(who is in Triple-A with the Yankees
)or a veteran like Jon Singleton(Mets), Trey Mancini (Diamondbacks), Bligh Madris(Tigers)or Mike Ford(Twins). Yuli Gurriel(who has familiarity with Cora from Houston )is 40 however is available after being designated for assignment by San Diego. Ditto Anthony Rizzo, who at 35 remains unsigned after a down year with the Yankees however said he’ll only play if he receives what he thinks he’s worth. Higher-value trade alternatives are possible also– and the Red Sox might circle back at the trade due date.”The conversations about longer-term options are ongoing,”Breslow stated.”We’ll determine something. We have actually got no choice.””I think we require to put all options on the table. Like I stated, asking type of guys who haven’t played in the major leagues yet to
presume new positions at the exact same time they’re attempting to make that transition is a difficult ask. But we require to be open-minded about options here.”Through the first month of the season, regardless of some inconsistent play, we seem like we have actually got a really skilled group and a group that our company believe in, and we wish to make certain that we’re doing everything we can to remain as competitive as possible. “More Red Sox coverage