'It will be a while' before Red Sox 1B Triston Casas returns to action

The Boston Red Sox have been playing without first baseman Triston Casas (rib injury) for three months and while they've certainly missed him for stretches, they've been able to play some of their best baseball over the last month with Dom Smith filling in.

While Casas was expected to return to action in July, it appears Red Sox fans will have to wait longer for the 24-year-old to be back at first base.

“It will be a while,” manager Alex Cora said about a potential rehab assignment for Casas (via. The Boston Globe ).

Having Casas back in the lineup would certainly help Boston make a push for the playoffs in the second half of the season, but the manager isn't focused on that.

“I just talked to players and we’re going to be locked into today,” Cora said. “The other stuff is out of our hands. Of course, we have to know where players are at physically. But to start thinking 12 days from now or 15 days from now, that’s not the way we’re doing it. I [have to] be consistent with the message. And that’s what we’re going to try to do. I feel he’s going to be a part of this. When? We don’t know yet.”

Casas hit .244 with an .857 OPS, six home runs and 10 RBIs in 20 games before going down with the injury.