Over the last two seasons, Casas has played only 92 of the Red Sox’s 324 games. Before his injury this season, he put up concerning numbers at the plate, with his 56 wRC+ being one of the worst marks in the league at the time.
Adding Okamoto to the fold gives the Red Sox a reliable option at first base, something they haven’t been able to confidently say in nearly two full seasons. He’d also bring tremendous power to Fenway Park, a notoriously hitter-friendly environment.
Assuming Bregman leaves, the Red Sox are currently slotted to have Marcelo Mayer take over the full-time duties at third base. Although this could work out, the combination of Mayer’s youth and his season-ending wrist injury raises a ton of questions surrounding this move.
The team’s DH is also set to be Masataka Yoshida, who struggled in his return to the field following an injury that sidelined him for nearly 110 games this year. Having Okamoto on the team could allow them to maximize their offensive upside and get the most out of their lineup without breaking the bank.
A lot of questions surround this team, but there’s no doubt that the addition of Okamoto could seriously upgrade this team offensively.
San Diego Padres
Unfortunately, despite going all in at this year’s trade deadline, it was another disappointing finish for the San Diego Padres. Heading home without making it past the Wild Card, the Padres clearly need to make a lot of moves this offseason. It doesn’t help that the team also has eight upcoming free agents, including three of their first base options.