Casas, Houck, and Oviedo all avoided arbitration, but their paths into 2026 couldn’t look more different.
The Red Sox quietly checked off another offseason box on Thursday, agreeing to one-year arbitration-avoidance deals with Triston Casas, Tanner Houck, and Johan Oviedo.
These moves don’t grab headlines or shift projections, but together show Boston’s view on risk, flexibility, and upside entering 2026.
Each contract carries distinct implications for roster construction, timelines, and expectations.
To examine Boston’s approach more closely, let’s break each deal down:
Triston Casas: A Reset, Not a Vote of Confidence
Casas’ one-year, $1.61 million deal feels more like a pause than a commitment.
His 2025 season never got off the ground, and the numbers before the knee injury were rough (.182/.277/.303 in 112 plate appearances). Add in the Red Sox trading for Willson Contreras, and Casas’ once-clear path to everyday first base reps has vanished.
This deal doesn’t signal belief so much as optionality. Casas still has minor-league options, and the organization now has the flexibility to send him to Worcester without financial pressure if spring training doesn’t go well.
Verdict: Low risk, but also low leverage. This is a prove-it year in the truest sense.
Tanner Houck: Paying for the Arm, Not the Timeline
Houck’s one-year, $4.15 million contract is about asset management, not immediate production.
His 2025 season spiraled quickly (8.04 ERA, 1.69 WHIP) before elbow issues shut him down, leading to hybrid UCL repair surgery in August. Best-case scenario? A return late in 2026. More realistically, 2027.
So why pay him now?
Controllable pitching still matters, and Houck’s pre-injury upside is worth keeping. Boston preserves long-term options without multi-year risk.
Verdict: Sensible insurance. You’re paying for what Houck might be, not what he’ll give you this season.
MORE RED SOX STORIES:
Ketel Marte Back on the Radar as Red Sox Weigh Tolle vs. Early
Red Sox Now Own Embarrassing Distinction in MLB Free Agency
7 Non-Roster Invitees Get Their Shot in Red Sox Spring Training
Johan Oviedo: The Only Deal with Real 2026 Impact
Oviedo’s one-year, $1.55 million deal stands apart — because he actually factors into next season.
After missing much of 2025 with a lat strain, Oviedo returned strong in August, posting a 3.57 ERA in nine starts. Boston clearly sees him as rotation depth with upside, especially at a time when innings will be closely monitored across the staff.
The $700,000 raise signals real opportunity, not placeholder status. Oviedo will enter spring training with a legitimate shot to stick.
Verdict: Quietly, the most important signing of the three.
Final Verdict:
None of these deals are flashy, but together they show Craig Breslow is managing risk: short-term contracts, long-term flexibility, and no emotional ties. The returns depend less on the deals, and more on how these players perform.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Remember to join our RED SOX on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Red Sox fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.
Category: General Sports
