The Boston Red Sox suffered a tough blow on Friday when 25-year-old first baseman Triston Casas sustained a severe knee injury while trying to beat out an infield grounder during a game against the Minnesota Twins.
Casas remained motionless on the field for several minutes after appearing to trip over the foot of Twins first baseman Ty France following a throwing error by pitcher Joe Ryan.
The injury was confirmed to be a ruptured patellar tendon, which will require surgery. Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow announced that the 2018 first-round pick will miss the rest of the season after appearing in just 29 games.
There is concern that the injury could threaten Casas’s long-term career. The patellar tendon connects the kneecap to the shinbone, and recovery typically takes 8 to 12 months.
However, a 2019 meta-analysis by researchers at Nantes University in France, which reviewed nine studies involving 196 athletes with this injury, found that full recovery is not guaranteed. Athletes’ performance levels after recovery varied widely—from just 52 percent to full pre-injury levels—when assessed 2 to 9 years post-injury.
Cold Reality After Casas Injury: Boston Must Replace Him
The news isn’t encouraging for Triston Casas. As pitcher Brayan Bello said after Friday’s game, “Everybody is down or sad. We’re just hoping he recovers quickly and that everything turns out well.”
Unfortunately, the Red Sox face a harsh reality: they lack depth at first base. The organization now has to seriously consider a long-term replacement for Casas, not just a temporary fill-in.
According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the Red Sox were among eight teams that showed interest in signing New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso during the offseason.
However, Boston chose to sign former Astros third baseman Alex Bregman instead. Alonso ultimately returned to the Mets.
More recently, Mets owner Steve Cohen told the New York Post that Alonso plans to opt out of his two-year, $54 million deal and re-enter free agency.
Alonso has been dominant to start the season, appearing in all 33 games while leading the National League in OPS (1.136), hits (40), and doubles (11). His eight home runs also rank third in the league.
Alonso Price Tag Upwards of $158 Million
During the 2023 season, media reports indicated that the Mets proposed a seven-year, $158 million extension to Pete Alonso. However, the first baseman declined the offer, choosing instead to explore free agency after the 2024 season.
While betting on himself didn’t yield the massive payday he may have envisioned, the $158 million offer is likely the minimum he’ll expect when testing free agency again.
Spotrac, a site specializing in sports business data, projects Alonso’s current market value at $174 million over six years.
With a payroll ranked 12th in MLB at $197.5 million this season, the Red Sox appear financially capable of pursuing Alonso in his anticipated 2026 free agency—especially if Triston Casas continues to struggle with injuries.
“Alonso would thrive aiming for the Green Monster and provide the right-handed power the Red Sox lineup is missing,” NESN’s Tim Crowley wrote during Alonso’s earlier stint on the open market.
If the Red Sox indeed need a new first baseman, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them make a strong push to land Alonso.
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