When the Red Sox acquired Willson Contreras to be the club’s new first baseman, the writing was on the wall for Triston Casas, whose role with the team as immediately cast into doubt.

Yet while nobody would have blamed Casas for being disappointed, he said Saturday that he understood why the move was made.

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“I wasn’t surprised,” Casas said. “The first base position for this team has lacked over the last couple of years the production from that spot and as of right now, the way it sits, he’s a better player than me and has been for his entire career,” Casas said. “So to upgrade at a position that has been deficient for the last two years is exactly what the team needed.”

While he isn’t sure what his role will be going forward, right now the immediate concern for both the Red Sox and Casas is getting the soon-to-be 26-year-old slugger healthy.

Casas suffered a season-ending ruptured patellar tendon last May that typically carries a year-long recovery timetable. Casas said right now he’s on schedule in his rehab progression and has been doing “just about all baseball activities.” The plan now is to keep ramping up and hopefully return to action in time for Opening Day.

If Casas can return to the field by then, it would only be 11 months out from surgery, which he said would be a tight squeeze but was still a realistic goal.

“I’ve talked to other players who had the injury and they said 11 months is very reasonable,” Casas said. “I’m not trying to get ahead of myself but I do see myself progressing well enough to maybe get into some spring training games, we’ll see how that goes because that’s a benchmark as well.”

Casas said since the injury he’s been in contact with former Red Sox right-hander Garrett Richards, who suffered the same injury while playing for the Los Angeles Angels back in 2014. He’s also been in touch with Trevor Story, who also endured a multi-year run of injuries before coming out the other side and putting together a fully healthy season in 2025.

“He’s a big brother figure to me,” Casas said of Story. “He’s always been there for me, even early on in my career, and he’s been here the whole time so he’s supported me, he knows what I’m going through mentally and physically.”

One other person Casas has spoken to is chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, who reached out to the first baseman following the trade to check in.

“He told me he has a lot of confidence in me regardless of what upgrades they’re making to the team or changes, he says he believes I can make an impact well into the season and when the games count the most,” Casas said. “He wants me to stay positive and let me know he still believes in me wholeheartedly.”

Once Casas is activated, he and the club will have to figure out a new path forward, but despite all of the setbacks Casas believes he can still be an All-Star player and is willing to do whatever the team needs to help the Red Sox win.

“There’s going to be a lot of turnover on the roster just like there is every year and hopefully I can find a spot to make my mark,” Casas said. “Whether it’s platooning or designated hitter, or whatever it is, I’ll be ready to do it.”