Triston Casas is set to return to the Dominican Winter League with Tigres del Licey this offseason, more than 18 months after rupturing his left patellar tendon on May 2, 2025. The 26-year-old first baseman last played for Licey during the 2022-23 offseason but has not appeared in a major league game since his injury.
Craig Breslow, the Red Sox president of baseball operations, confirmed Casas’ participation but said there is no definitive date for his return. “Still needs to ramp up in terms of game speed and intensity,” Breslow said. “But he is feeling good, so we’re optimistic he’s gonna be able to compete in Winter League games.”
Casas’ recovery has faced additional hurdles. Earlier this year, he dealt with a left-side intercostal strain and underwent arthroscopic wrist surgery in August. Breslow acknowledged the challenges but emphasized that Casas’ overall workload remains manageable. “He’s obviously missed a significant amount of time over the last couple of years so we don’t have real workload concerns in terms of total volume,” Breslow said. “We just want to make sure that his body is ready to do what will be asked of it and what’s required of playing in a pretty competitive environment.”
The Red Sox have been cautious with Casas, who was a promising prospect before his injury. His return to the Winter League will offer a chance to regain game experience against strong competition.
Meanwhile, the club reported progress on other players recovering from injuries. Pitching prospect Marcus Phillips, who missed time late in the season due to elbow inflammation, is now fully healthy. The 22-year-old right-hander was Boston’s 33rd overall pick in 2025 out of Tennessee. Phillips struggled in his first professional season with High-A Greenville, posting a 0-7 record and a 6.71 ERA, walking 51 batters in 61 ⅔ innings. Breslow said the organization remains optimistic about Phillips’ potential despite inconsistent performance. “His ability to do some things with the ball is pretty special, pretty unique,” Breslow said. “I just think the more reps he gets as a pitcher, the better off he’s going to be.”
Breslow also addressed Garrett Whitlock’s injury, confirming the setup reliever pitched through a stress fracture of the tibia late in the 2026 season. “So far it’s making good progress,” Breslow said. “I don’t anticipate this to be something that has longer term implications.” Whitlock finished ninth in the American League Reliever of the Year voting with a 1.72 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and .204 opponent batting average over 54 games.
The Red Sox’ offseason outlook includes managing player availability and potential trades. Breslow said the club does not consider any player entirely untouchable but acknowledged that their valuation of certain players differs from other teams. “We have a lot of players on our roster that I don’t envision us trading,” he said. Prospects such as Franklin Arias, ranked No. 2 on Baseball America’s Top 100 list, and others like Payton Tolle, Garrett Crochet, and Roman Anthony are viewed as close to untouchable.
Fangraphs recently projected the Red Sox to finish sixth in their 2027 MLB offseason power rankings, with an 87-75 record, narrowly behind the New York Yankees. Boston’s pitching WAR is ranked second only to the Dodgers and Phillies, while their batting WAR sits mid-table. The team will look to integrate returning players like Casas as they prepare for the next season.
Casas’ participation with Tigres del Licey will be closely watched as an indicator of his readiness to contribute to the major league club again. Breslow’s cautious optimism about Casas’ condition reflects the club’s careful approach to his comeback.
According to Yahoo Sports.
