With the news of Triston Casas’ patellar tendon rupture and Romy González currently sitting out due to a collision at first base, the hole in the Red Sox’s depth chart at first base is starting to worry many people. While Casas doesn’t have the Gold Glove that his infield counterpart, Trevor Story, does the season-ending injury that Casas suffered was somewhat reminiscent of Story’s from the beginning of last year in the sense that one of the team’s unspoken leaders who lives and dies by the game has to sit out for another season after missing significant time the year prior. So many were projecting Casas to have a big year in 2025. After a less-than-ideal start to the season, excluding his injury for now, it’s a shame that Casas will need to sit another year before showing the naysayers his potential. According to speculation, he might not even do it in a Red Sox jersey next season, which makes matters even worse. While many still mourn for the young slugger and his left patellar tendon, there are several options, both internally and externally, that the Red Sox could capitalize on to enhance their roster further.

Starting by looking internally, there have been a lot of suggestions from fans regarding who they think should play first. Many fans continue mentioning Rafael Devers’ name in these conversations; however, it’s not a move Raffy wants to make, despite the court of public opinion suggesting it. After management mishandled the situation and made Raffy the team’s everyday DH, he does not want to be offered a consolidation position now that their first option for first base didn’t work out. So, with that, the Red Sox are still looking between two players who could potentially land the gig at first base for the remainder of the 2025 season: Romy González and Abraham Toro. Despite Romy never having the opportunity to be an everyday player, he has been incredibly clutch in his tenure with the Red Sox. Before Boston picked him up, González formerly played with the Chicago White Sox. While he never really set the world on fire in Chicago, he was given some opportunities and was primarily known for his speed, but due to injuries, he ended up becoming a bench bat for Chicago. In his time in Boston, he has served as one of the most clutch batters to come off the bench because of his versatility on the field, as he can essentially play every position other than catcher. He isn’t the only Red Sox with professional playing time at first base; however, the Red Sox also signed and invited former Athletic Abraham Toro this past offseason. While Toro has never been an all-star, the switch-hitting infielder also has experience with the position. Looking at the two, Toro’s numbers at the plate are definitely better, but something to consider is that he’s had about double the amount of playing time Romy has had. They both are viable options for a quick fix, but if the Red Sox truly want to contend the way they’ve been saying they want to, then, in total transparency, neither of them would be a great long-term fit because while there are moments of greatness, neither of them seem to be consistent in either their defensive abilites. However, presuming that Triston Casas is still with the Sox after this year, it wouldn’t be shocking if Cora and Breslow devise that rotating Romy and Toro (with perhaps a sprinkle of Connor Wong as Red Sox “backup” catcher Carlos Narváez has been holding it down behind the plate) would be the appropriate move without having someone who has little to no experience learning the position throughout the remainder of the season.

Romy Gonzalez attempted to stay in the game but was replaced. Red Sox depth chart at 1B getting thin. https://t.co/8tdBXGpu8V

— Brandon Wile (@Brandon_N_Wile) May 8, 2025

That being said, if Triston Casas isn’t in the vision as a future club member, this potentially opens the Red Sox’s window of opportunity to find some new talent. Whether it’s signing a lingering free agent or making a trade with a club who is on their way out of playoff contention, who knows, but there are some viable options for the team to find a more suitable long-term fix for the hole at first base. If the Red Sox are willing to trade, there are several deadline VIPs who seem to move every year that the Sox could make a move on sooner than after the All-Star break (we’re looking at you, Josh Bell), but why not try to get a firstbaseman who could make a career in Boston. One potential trade candidate I am fond of (perhaps because of his time in Philly) is righty Rhys Hoskins, who exercised his $18 million player option with the Brewers for the 2025 season. He didn’t have the best year in 2024 after missing the entire ’23 campaign due to a torn ACL; however, if he plays like he has been to start the season for the rest of this year, he could be a serious target for the Red Sox to acquire. However, with the almost MLB-ready prospects in AAA brimming to the surface, Breslow might be wary of trading players away. When Breslow and Cora approached Devers about the switch, in addition to Devers’ “no,” he also told them to “hit the market,” potentially signing a lingering free agent first baseman, and there is still one out there. In the 2007 draft, the Red Sox signed Anthony Rizzo, projecting him to be the first baseman of the future for the organization; however, they ended up trading him in the blockbuster deal they made with San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez. A Rizzo homecoming could be a more straightforward long-term fix as we adjust to an infield without Triston Casas, especially since Rizzo has had 14,000-plus innings at the position in the majors.

While Rizzo isn’t the same player he was when he won Gold Gloves or was hitting 25+ home runs, he, as well as Hoskins or Josh Bell, could be an option for the team if their two main internal options begin to burn out. It’s only been about a week since Casas sustained his injury, but with the Red Sox already down Romy for at least a few more days, the discussions of what should come next are essential, especially if the Sox are planning on making as deep a run as they’re hoping for. Knowing Breslow and Cora’s loyalty to the players they have now, it wouldn’t be surprising if they continue to have Toro and González duke it out for playing time at first for now.