The Commissioner speaks
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Triston Casas had heard the news. Corbin Carroll had agreed to an eight-year, $111 million contract extension.
The reasons for Casas to pay attention to such a deal were obvious, with the Arizona outfielder having played just five more major league games (32) than the Sox first baseman. Also, just eight months separate the two in age.
So, it's not wild to think that such contract conversations were also in Casas' world. Not yet, the 23 year old noted.
"Nothing still," Casas told WEEI.com when asked if there was any extension talk with the Red Sox. "It was encouraging to see. He has 32 games so I guess I have to wait for seven or eight more to be considered. But it was encouraging to see, for sure. I’m really happy for him. He know he is an electric player. I have never seen him play in person, but from his highlights I can imagine he deserve all of that.
"It’s really not something I’m focused on, at all. Me, personally, I feel like I’m getting better every day. The money to me is secondary. I’m focused on winning games and getting better every single day. I know the money will come if I just take care of what I need to do. Right now I’m just trying to make a name for myself. I’m happy for Corbin and his family, but I’m just focused on here and now. I can’t get $100 million ahead of myself. I’m just trying to make my seventy-fifty this year."
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom has made it clear that part of his plan for building a sustainable winner in Boston is to sign young players to contract extensions early on in their major league careers. He was part of such maneuvering in Tampa Bay with two of Major League Baseballl's earliest extensions - Evan Longoria and Matt Moore - and has implemented the strategy with the Red Sox thanks to Garrett Whitlock's deal.
But, thus far, there has been no movement for the possible extension candidates (Tanner Houck, Bryan Bello, Casas) currently on the Red Sox roster.
Casas, for one, is willing to wait.
"Up until right now, I haven’t talked to anybody about it," the first baseman said regarding seeking out advice regarding such commitment. "I feel like once you start talking with people about numbers it can hurt people’s feelings and that’s the last thing I want to do in this clubhouse. We’re all here for a common goal and we’re all pulling on the same side of the rope. And if you really think about everybody has the same amount of contribution to the team. The left fielder has as many chances as the second baseman and the right fielder is just as important as the third baseman. How much money everybody makes really doesn’t matter, and how much money I’m going to make doesn’t matter. I’m focused on making relationships and being a good teammate and having my teammates on my side and playing well for the fans and being an overall good player. The numbers will take care of itself."
So far in Grapefruit League action, Casas is hitting .357 (10-for-28) with two home runs and a 1.048 OPS in 10 games. He is currently the 23rd-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline.