Red Sox were willing to package Triston Casas in a trade to Seattle; the Mariners needed to take $55.8 million of veteran remaining salary
The Red Sox added two new starters to the rotation this offseason in All-Stars Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler. Prior to making those moves, the Red Sox considered a trade that would have sent two members of the starting lineup to the Mariners for pitching.
Boston has been connected to Mariners starter Luis Castillo all winter and reportedly considered trading first baseman Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida’s contract to Seattle for the righty, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Yoshida is owed $55.8 million over the next three years, which would have allowed Boston to dump his salary while freeing a roster spot to balance out their lineup better. The Red Sox balked at the idea of moving Casas unless Seattle took back Yoshida, who has been a disappointment since he signed with Boston.
“Boston remained in the market for another starter, with Seattle’s Luis Castillo among its targets, but according to sources, the Mariners wanted Triston Casas back in a trade, something the Red Sox were unwilling to do unless Seattle took back Masataka Yoshida, who has three years and $55.8 million remaining on his contract,” Feinsand wrote.
The All-Star hurler went 11-12 this past season with a 3.64 ERA while striking out 175 batters in 175 1/3 innings. Castillo not only eats innings, but he’s been very reliable since joining the Mariners, making 30 starts or more in each of his two full seasons in Emerald City. He would have complemented the Crochet trade and the rotation nicely.
During the Winter Meetings in Dallas, the Red Sox had spoken with the Mariners while also working out a deal with the White Sox for Crochet. The talks with the Marines died, and the Sox traded four prospects to the White Sox for Crochet and this week signed Buehler to a one-year, $21.05 million contract.
Casas has the potential to develop into a true middle of the order power hitter in the game but needs to stay healthy over the course of the regular season. The young slugger was plagued by a rib injury last season, slashing .241/.337/.462 line with 13 homers in 63 games. The slugger is a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat and could potentially become a 35-40 home run hitter.
Boston is in need of a right-handed hitter to replace Tyler O’Neill’s production. O’Neill signed with the Orioles earlier this month, essentially replacing Anthony Santander, who is also a free agent this winter. The Red Sox have also been connected to outfielder Randal Grichuk, but he is seen as more of a platoon player who could play right field and be a designated hitter against lefties, putting Yoshida and Wilyer Abreu on the bench.
