When Do We See Big Triston Casas?

It's possible Casas craps the bed in Worcester and doesn't come up until next year, but that seems like a very, very low probability. He has everything you'd want in a premier first base prospect.

That said, Casas has never dominated at any level. He's always been good, but he's never had eye-popping numbers. I agree that no matter what he does in the preseason, Casas will not break camp with the team. He'll have to play his way on to the roster, and I think that takes at least two months, maybe more. He won't be promoted until he's proven he is absolutely, positively ready. This won't be like Duran. When Casas comes up, he will play every day.

July still seems like a good target date despite what the parent team's needs might be. Casas is very young and he won't be rushed.

Did the new CBA alter the incentive for teams to keep top prospects down and limit their service time so as to prolong their arb/FA clock from starting?

If we don't see Casas until 2033 then something probably went wrong, at least that's the way I see it.

Ha you got me there on my mistype but still think my point is correct that if we don't see Casas till 2023 something went wrong.

I think he will force his way by the end of July at the latest. Perhaps Dalbec gets moved for a corner OF if that's a need or pitching help, or more likely drops into a platoon with Casas if Casas holds his own. They'll probably hang on to Dalbec to DH in 2023.

It's also possible that the Red Sox are considering starting Casas at 1st right off the bat.

This seems aggressive, but there are two glaring holes on the Red Sox right now: RHH corner OF and LHH 1st baseman

If Casas starts the seasons in the majors and Dalbec splits time in the OF, both of those holes disappear.

Just a theory, but it seems quite strange that Bloom would have 8 starters and 10 relievers, but rely on Franchy Cordero and Travis Shaw for OF/1B depth.

I can't see them moving both Whitlock and Houck into the rotation, not in this era of five-inning starts. But I think at least one of Wacha and Hill will be in the rotatation. 

Just moving one of Whitlock/Houck into the rotation leaves you short in the BP. And I don't know who the No. 5 starter would be.

I am curious to hear from thr more experienced folks — is Casas on the roster out of spring training an option? I had not even considered it, but looking at projected roster (at the moment) that slot is Shaw’s. Could they consider a Dalbec/Casas platoon? I am guessing they’d rather Casas get everyday reps in AAA, but the path does seem to be there.

CC Sabathia and Hanley Ramirez are two guys that made the team out of spring training in similar positions to Casas. Can't think of too many examples.

It will almost assuredly will be Travis Shaw who makes the trip to Boston. Casas, as good as he is, has not had much seasoning in AAA. Add to that service time, depth, playing full time in AAA vs part time in Boston, and we will find Casas in AAA to start the season. The Red Sox need to settle into who gets how much playing where, and that includes how effective the outfielder they have are, right vs left handed…..and how many players come out of spring training with injuries. It also depends on how flexible the bench needs to be, and if there is room for LHH who only plays 1B vs a multi position player.

I remember vividly that our lineup led MLB for a good portion of the season in chase rate, after the Schwarber trade we slided to 3rd behind only the Royals and the Marlins and the FO didn’t address this issue in the off season (They ended the season with an ugly 33.7% O-Swing% and adding Trevor Story and his 33.5% O-Swing% doesn’t seem helping).
Triston’s promotion will be a breeze of fresh air in the sense that he’ll bring back plate discipline to the batter box and maybe, like it did with KS presence in the lineup, it will spread through the collective offensive approach.