The Boston Red Sox have a problem at first base. Triston Casas is out for the season with a knee injury, and without him, the team is thin at the position.
For now, Romy Gonzalez will take over as the starting first baseman. Abraham Toro could also fill in at first if needed. There’s even speculation about whether the team might call up outfielder Roman Anthony from Triple-A Worcester to try him at first base, even though he’s only played outfield in the minors.
Another option? Boston could sign a free agent, possibly a familiar name to New York Yankees fans.
Boston Red Sox Insider Thinks Former Yankees First Baseman Anthony Rizzo Could Be in Play
Chris Cotillo, a Red Sox beat writer for MassLive.com, shared his thoughts on what Boston should do to fill the void at first base with Casas done for the year. Cotillo believes the Red Sox should sign veteran first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who played with the Yankees from 2021 to 2024.
Cotillo said, “They need a solution to get them to the trade deadline.” Signing Rizzo for the rest of the 2025 season could make sense. In 2024, Rizzo appeared in 92 games with New York, batting .228 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs. He didn’t steal any bases and had a .301 on-base percentage.
But at his best, Rizzo can be a force at the plate. He’s just two seasons removed from a 32-home run campaign in 2022. Rizzo finished that season with an .817 OPS in 130 games played. That kind of production would be more than enough to hold down first base in Boston until reinforcements are available at the deadline.
On paper, Rizzo would be an upgrade at first. But Gonzalez has also held his own. Through 16 games in 2025, he’s hitting .327 with six RBIs, three stolen bases, and one caught stealing. He hasn’t homered yet, but his on-base percentage is .382.
Even if the Sox want to ride with Gonzalez for now, adding Rizzo would give them much-needed depth in case of injury. There’s also a good chance Boston looks to upgrade at the trade deadline.
The Red Sox are 18-18 and sit 1.5 games behind the Yankees (19-16) for first place in the AL East.
So far, Boston’s season has been inconsistent. While signing Rizzo might be the smart move, it still feels unlikely the Red Sox will make a splash before the deadline. The team has missed the playoffs each of the past three seasons.