Red Sox First Base Trade Chatter Draws Skepticism
One longtime Boston baseball voice is not buying the first base buzz around the Boston Red Sox.
As speculation swirls about the team potentially adding a veteran bat ahead of the trade deadline, Tony Massarotti, host of the Baseball Hour on 98.5 The Sports Hub, made it clear he is not convinced first base should be near the top of the front office’s rumored wish list, notably Arizona Diamondbacks’ Josh Naylor.
“I don’t love [Josh] Naylor,” Massarotti said during a segment Thursday. “First base right now is not a huge priority for me. When you use [Abraham Toro and Romy Gonzalez] the way you have been using them, you’re good enough there.”
He added that next season could bring more internal clarity with Triston Casas and Kristian Campbell both factoring into the long-term picture.
While Naylor has reportedly drawn interest from executives around the league, Massarotti sees limited value in Boston pushing for an upgrade — especially when the in-house duo has been solid.
Toro and Gonzalez have combined for 10 home runs and 48 RBI while hitting .298. Gonzalez, in particular, has crushed left-handed pitching, slashing .406 with four home runs in those matchups.
Casas has shown flashes of power when healthy, hitting 45 home runs across parts of four seasons. Two major injuries have slowed his development, but the Red Sox could still view him as a foundational piece.
And then there is Campbell. The rookie has yet to play first base in the majors but has started nine games there for Triple-A Worcester since mid-May. Boston has been proactive about expanding his versatility, introducing him to the position in pregame drills during a homestand in May. Outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida has also been seen working at first, though he is largely believed to be an emergency option.
Names like Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Guardians and Ryan O’Hearn of the Baltimore Orioles continue to surface, but Massarotti’s stance is clear: Boston has bigger needs, and first base can wait.