BREAKING: Alex Cora Delivers Emotional Response to Pete Alonso Rumors, Revealing Surprising Stance on Triston Casas’ Future.vc

(BOSTON) — With Pete Alonso free-agency rumors swirling around Boston, Red Sox manager Alex Cora has finally spoken—and his fierce, yet measured defense of first baseman Triston Casas has stunned Red Sox Nation with its honesty and underlying intensity.

While Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow has publicly refused to commit to Casas as the team’s 2026 Opening Day first baseman, Cora offered a surprising statement of support that reveals his true, personal assessment of the young slugger’s future.

The Stance: “We’re Not Giving Up On Him”

Appearing on the “Foul Territory” podcast, Cora was asked directly whether Casas or the star free agent slugger Alonso would be the starting first baseman for the Red Sox in 2026. Cora pointedly dodged the question regarding Alonso, instead pouring his focus into the homegrown talent.

Cora’s full quote provides the emotional context behind the organizational dilemma:

“We’ve got to get him healthy, man,” Cora said. “I think Triston is a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish, but we’ve got to get him healthy. Last year, we were talking about Triston hitting 30 home runs and driving in 100 [runs]… We’re not giving up on him, but we know he hasn’t been healthy throughout his career, so that’s very important.”

The Intensity and The Double Message

While the “emotional” part of the response centers on getting the injury-plagued Casas healthy (he missed the majority of the last two seasons, including the 2025 season after rupturing a patellar tendon), the intensity lies in what Cora is defending:

1. Defending Potential: Cora is reminding the fanbase and the front office that Casas is three years removed from a top-three AL Rookie of the Year finish and still possesses the raw power to be a 30-homer threat—the exact power the team is currently desperate to acquire via free agency.
2. Trade Leverage: By publicly stating, “We’re not giving up on him,” Cora is attempting to counter the ongoing trade buzz which has been fueled by the team’s pursuit of Alonso. If the Red Sox do sign the “Polar Bear,” Cora’s words lay the groundwork for a Casas-Alonso platoon or for a future trade where the Red Sox demand maximum value, rather than selling Casas at his injury-depressed low point.

Cora’s stance confirms that despite the constant noise surrounding Alonso, the future of Triston Casas is far from over in Boston.