FORT MYERS, Fla. – Triston Casas needs to be a Red Sock for all times.
With his offseason beard gone, it was simple to see a beaming smile as he fielded his first questions of spring coaching and spoke about what he hopes will probably be an extended future with the group.
“It’s so exciting,” he mentioned of being again. “I used to be simply on the drive over right here, on Alligator Alley, and I used to be simply desirous about what number of instances I’ve performed this drive, what number of instances I hope to do it once more.
“I was like, oh my gosh, I love this drive so much! Just always a good feeling to come into Fort Myers.”
Somehow, it’s already the 24-year-old’s seventh yr within the Red Sox group. They chosen him within the first spherical of the 2018 draft, he debuted in September 2022, and have become the crew’s beginning first baseman final season. These are his individuals, that is his crew, that is the place he needs to be. He made certain to attend each camp and meetup the crew had this yr, touring to Fort Myers, Texas, the Dominican Republic, and Boston to spend time bonding and coaching along with his teammates. It’s one of many causes Alex Cora referred to as him the “MVP of the offseason” at Winter Weekend.
“Getting in a routine in the offseason, it’s important for your workouts, for practicing skill, but that was one thing that I wanted to work on was like, camaraderie, like building team unity,” Casas defined. “I simply needed to be as out there to the org as I might, and to the teammates that needed to assist me get higher, as a result of it wasn’t like I used to be going there and we have been simply doing no matter. We have been getting there and getting stuff performed.
“It was a good space to be productive, and what better people to do it with than my teammates that I’m hopefully gonna spend a lot of time with for the next couple years.”
“Yeah of course,” Casas mentioned when requested if he’d be open to discussing a contract extension with the membership. “I want to be here forever. This is not a bad place to play, it’s actually the best, I think, so I’d love to be here.”
In reality, they have already got. “Of course, of course we have,” he mentioned, however shortly added, “nothing enticing though.”
It’s nearly unimaginable to be a lifer in right this moment’s recreation. The Red Sox, who’re about to embark upon their 124th season, have had tens of 1000’s of gamers put on their uniform. Only 13 did so completely over big-league careers of a minimum of 10 years, and Dustin Pedroia (2006-19) and Jason Varitek (1997-11) stand alone on this century.
That’s a priority for one more day although. Thus far, the 2 sides aren’t aligned. Casas wasn’t certain what the provide must be to get him to signal on the dotted line.
“One that sets me and my family up for life,” he defined. “I don’t know what that looks like.”
That doesn’t imply he’s asking for something outrageous, although. He solely needs what he’s earned and can proceed to earn via arduous work and contribution to the membership.
“I’m low-maintenance,” he mentioned. “I don’t need a lot. I got a small family. I don’t need much, but something that I think would suffice the work that I’ve put in throughout my whole life would be nice.”
When requested if what Mookie Betts mentioned concerning the hardest provide to show down being the primary one had additionally been the case for him, Casas’ reply was fast and succinct. “Uh, no.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com