Triston Casas on Red Sox offseason: ‘I’m surprised we did as much as we did’
Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas arrived into camp down at Fort Myers this weekend. The 24-year-old enters his sophomore season looking to build off a strong second half of his 2023 campaign.
Casas is excited to get back to work and be with his new teammates ahead of the 2024 season. The Florida native was asked by reporters on Sunday whether he was disappointed with the clubs attempt to improve the roster this winter.
“I’m surprised we did as much as we did,” he said. “I like the names that we’ve got in-house. Even in the other locker rooms (minor league camp) as well, I think we’re really deep as an organization. Just finally going full-circle with a lot of these guys in these clubhouses, whether it’s different leagues, playing against them or with them. I’m very excited about this group. We’re still making additions and subtractions, like I found out yesterday. I think it’s all for the greater good. I really like where our roster is at.
“Thinking about how many times I’ve done this drive (from Miami to Fort Myers), thinking about how many times I’d like to do it again, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love this drive so much.’ Just always a good feeling to come to Fort Myers.”
This offseason, the Red Sox added Tyler O’Neill and Vaughn Grissom to their lineup. Both players offer upside, but the club has failed to replace the loss of Justin Turner’s bat.
Outside of the lineup, the club only added right-handed pitchers Lucas Giolito and Cooper Criswell on major league deals. The Red Sox did add additional righty pitching depth with Isaiah Campbell, Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Justin Slaten.
Despite the subtractions of Alex Verdugo, Chris Sale and John Schreiber who was traded on Saturday to the Royals, Casas is focused on growing with the new crop of players on the roster.
Casas was impressed with Grissom when he first met him at rookie camp in January. “My first impression of him is that I find a lot of my qualities or my personality in him. I think we’re pretty similar personality-wise. I think we have a similar sense of humor. I think he has a lot of characteristics similar to mine in terms of work ethic, thought process, how to go about at-bats and in-game stuff, on the field as well as off the field.”
Casas is ready to play alongside Grissom on the right side of the infield this season and for years to come.
“I really like it,” Casas said of the current roster to the Boston Herald. “I put an everyday Vaughn Grissom, me at first base, and that left side of the field just about up with everybody else. I know the Phillies said that they had the best (infield). Bryce Harper said that they had the best one, but if all of our players play up to their potential, I think we’re right up there with any infield in the league.”
The Red Sox are young and are anchored by Rafael Devers’ bat in the middle of the lineup. The likes of Trevor Story and Casas will need to take steps forward in 2024 if the club is expected to reach full potential.
