Red Sox Roster Shake-Up Likely Looming as Injuries Keep Mounting

As the injuries pile up on the Sox, it has become apparent that they do not have nearly as much quality depth as they believed in spring training. In order to fill these needs in the short term, the team has had to promote from within.
Texas Rangers v Boston Red Sox
Texas Rangers v Boston Red Sox | Jaiden Tripi/GettyImages

The injuries continue to mount against the stagnating Red Sox as they lose more players to the disabled list. The team currently has eight players on said list, and they are running out of players to fill their spots. This recent string of injuries has instigated questions about how these injuries will be addressed. While the team calls up players from its minor league affiliates, speculation is mounting that General Manager Craig Breslow will make trades this summer to address the team's needs.

The most significant of the injuries has been Tristan Casas' season-ending knee injury, which has left the team without a full-time first baseman. It also reignited the drama between the Red Sox and Rafael Devers over his refusal to play first base. Since then, the Red Sox have also lost outfielder Rob Refsnyder and utility infielder Romy Gonzalez, who was filling in at first recently.

After the loss to the Royals last Friday, manager Alex Cora suggested that roster moves would likely happen. Since then, the team has been forced to call up infielders Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro; however, these two are playing out of their usual positions, and the team still needs a true first baseman.

""We’ve got to make decisions.""
Alex Cora (5/9/2025)

According to Masslive's Chris Cotillo, Cora stated, "Ref and Romy, they’re banged up. We’ve got to make decisions, probably, and see how close they are. Today for Romy was a tough one. He didn't bounce back the way we expected. Ref is making strides, but he’s not there yet. We'll see." The good news is that, according to MLB.com, Gonzalez is expected to return by next week, which will be a much-needed boost for a club lacking depth like the Sox.

As the Red Sox coast around the .500 mark a quarter of the way through this season, it has become widely believed that the club's needs, especially at first base, will compel General Manager Craig Breslow to initiate trades this summer. Until such speculation is confirmed, the Red Sox will be forced to continue calling up minor league players. The team desperately needs a true first baseman, and not finding one through a trade may cause the Red Sox to miss the postseason for the fourth year in a row.

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