Red Sox’s Triston Casas Backing Up Willson Contreras No Sure Thing

Who’s on first for the Boston Red Sox? Obviously Willson Contreras is the answer, following chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s deal with the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire the three-time All-Star.

Who’s backing up at first base, however, remains to be seen.

Logic dictates Triston Casas will be No. 2 on the depth chart at first, provided he’s fully recovered from the knee injury which abruptly ended his 2025 season in May.

But Casas backing up Contreras isn’t that simple.

“When Casas is healthy — be it at the start of the season or shortly thereafter — sending him to Triple A Worcester is an option,” the Boston Globe’s Tim Healey reports. “That will depend on how he looks, as well as the health of Contreras and those getting time at designated hitter.”

MLB.com’s Ian Browne is thinking the same thing.

“One overlooked thing about Casas is that he still has Minor League options, which makes it easier to keep him in the organization as he regains his timing and his health. How about a scenario in which Casas starts the season at Triple-A Worcester and gets an ample amount of at-bats to make up for the time missed last year?” Browne writes.

“(W)ith Casas just a short drive away in Worcester, he serves as injury protection for the Red Sox at first base and DH,” Browne notes.

“What about a rotation system in which Contreras gets the bulk of the at-bats at first base but occasionally slots in at DH, giving Casas a chance to play the field? In that scenario, Casas would be the club’s primary DH,” Browne reports.

Should the Red Sox zig instead of zag, what other options do they have at first base?

“Behind Contreras and Casas, those on the depth chart include utility players Romy Gonzalez (who is likely to see time at DH and perhaps second base), Triston Gray (acquired via trade with the Rays in November), and Nick Sogard (11 starts at first in 2025),” Healey writes.

“Kristian Campbell’s defensive efforts are focused on the outfield, but it’s hard to rule out the Sox giving him another go at first. Nate Eaton has played a bunch of positions, but never first,” Healey adds.

Masslive.com’s Chris Cotillo believes Campbell isn’t part of the solution at first base.

“Campbell’s bizarre 2025 won’t be repeated, but it’s hard to envision a full year in the big leagues for him in 2026. The Sox clearly want him in the outfield on a full-time basis, which limits the path to major league at-bats,” Cotillo reports. “His development will continue in a year split between Triple-A and the majors and there will be signs of improvement.”

However Cotillo asserts Casas deserves to be on the big-league roster.

“Still, if healthy, Casas is too talented to play at Triple-A or be in a bench role,” Cotillo writes.

That brings us back to Healey and his outlook at first base.

“Underscoring the importance of adding Contreras and getting Casas healthy: The farm system features little in the form of first-base prospects,” Healey notes.

“Nathan Hickey, 26, had a .733 OPS and played mostly first for Worcester last season. Brooks Bannon, a 21-year-old catcher who has started to dabble at first, has big raw power but didn’t hit particularly well with Double-A Portland last season,” Healey writes.

But at the end of the day, how far the Red Sox go this season will depend on Contreras rather than who’s backing him up at first base.

“Contreras has a real chance of leading Boston in homers, using his pull-side power to rack them up at home and surpass his career total of 24. He’ll turn into a stabilizing force in the middle of the lineup,” Cotillo concludes.