With first baseman Triston Casas sidelined by injury, the Boston Red Sox find themselves in a curious position. They have an immediate solution at hand, yet a hesitant manager. How do you replace a left-handed bat at a power position without overspending? By turning to another lefty already on the roster.
But fans are starting to ask the obvious. If help is readily available, why won’t management act?
The lack of urgency has sparked frustration, with some supporters calling for drastic changes. Now the question looms, can Boston rally with the division still within reach, or will inaction spark a slow, season-long unraveling?
Red Sox Under Fire by Fans for Organizational Lethargy When Dealing With Injury Woes
When Casas suffered a season-ending injury, the Red Sox, from a fan viewpoint, didn’t appear stressed or overly concerned about finding a replacement for their 25-year-old first baseman. With a few internal options on the 40-man roster, many believed Rafael Devers would slide over to first base from his designated hitter role.
Meanwhile, fresh off shoulder surgery, Masataka Yoshida appears healthy enough to swing the bat but hasn’t yet been cleared to return to the field. Red Sox manager Alex Cora recently spoke to NESN about the deeper complications in bringing Yoshida back.
“I know he’s frustrated. I think we all are,” Cora said. “It was major surgery. It was. We haven’t rushed him through the process. We’ve been very patient, and we will stay patient with him. He wants to play. We got to get him going throwing-wise. It’s been a challenge. It’s not lack of effort, it’s not lack of resources. I think our guys have done an amazing job. It just hasn’t happened yet.”
According to the article, Yoshida experiences pain throwing beyond 120 feet. In essence, Cora and the Red Sox’s front office prefer he be field-ready before returning, rather than use him solely as a designated hitter.
From afar, it seems logical. Place Yoshida at DH and let Devers take over at first base. But Cora shot that idea down during an interview on WEEI.
“Triston got hurt Saturday, and we got some capable players. Romy is having a good season. Toro, you saw him yesterday; he put in some good at-bats. So I’m not saying we’ll never have that conversation, but I think for now, where we’re at, I like Raffy as a DH. I like him as my DH. You take away the first weekend of the season, and he’s been one of the best hitters in the big leagues, and he’s doing an outstanding job.”
Yoshida could provide a much-needed boost if used in conjunction with a Devers position shift. Yoshida ranks fourth on the team with a .373 on-base percentage and leads the American League with 27 walks. Still, Cora appears unwilling to make the move — sparking vocal frustration from the fan base.
Fans are also calling for the team to promote top hitting prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer for positional consideration. Anthony offers the offensive potential to play first base full-time. Mayer, a natural middle infielder, would bring soft hands, quick reflexes, and potentially grow into the position at the plate.
The Red Sox finish their six-game homestand over the next two days before heading on the road for three games each against the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers. Having dropped five of their last six, Boston can’t afford to fall further behind the New York Yankees. If management keeps avoiding the clear solution to the roster hole, the playoff race could slip further out of reach.