Red Sox’ Triston Casas responds to idea of being traded, says he wants to win in Boston

“I want to be a part of the plans to make that happen, but if not, and they want to seek an outside source for me to try to bolster the roster, that’s well within their ability.”

Triston Casas’s 2024 season was a forgettable one.

Between being sidelined for four months due to a rib injury and only playing in 63 games, batting .241 in those contests, and the Red Sox missing the playoffs for the third straight year, chances are he’d like to move on to 2025.

However, it might be difficult for Casas to look forward to next season.

Boston’s star first baseman was named in a trade proposal by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal last month, which has led to plenty of online discussions consisting of people weighing the idea of the Red Sox hypothetically dealing him for a position of need.

Rosenthal suggested that Boston deal Casas to the Seattle Mariners for a starting pitcher and sign a right-handed hitter over the offseason.

While there have been no reported rumors of the Red Sox actually being interested in trading away the 24-year-old, he responded to the noise this week.

Casas told The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams that he wants to stay, and win, in Boston. However, Casas didn’t also sound like somebody who’s been promised that he won’t be traded to another club this winter.

“I think that the team and the organization should continue to strive for a championship whether I’m in the plans or not,” he said. “I don’t know what the front office has in store for this offseason in terms of restructuring the roster to try to become a playoff team.

“I want to be a part of the plans to make that happen, but if not, and they want to seek an outside source for me to try to bolster the roster, that’s well within their ability.”

The Red Sox at least attempted to sign Casas to a contract extension before this past season. He told the Globe’s Alex Speier in March that he turned down multiple offers made by the club, but would be open to re-entering discussions at any point during the season.

Casas won’t become a free agent until the end of the decade, but Boston has made it a point to lock up young talent on a discount because of their youth (i.e., Brayan Bello and Ceddanne Rafaela). So, it’s not surprising that the Red Sox have tried to come to terms with Casas so early on in his career.

It’s unknown if Boston has had contract discussions with the player’s party since last winter.

Nevertheless, Casas sounds like someone who’s accepted that his future is out of his control.

“Do I want it to be in Boston? Of course, because that’s all I know,” he said. “But if I’m moved on from, that’s fine. I understand why. There’s no need to explain much further than that.”