I just don't think CBOs look at this roster and think, wow these are the guys I'm going to have for the next 5 years. I think they know that everyone could be dealt and they are more focused on 2-3 years than what the team looks like well into the future.
Maybe Casas really wasn't the DH of the future? After his ARB years were up, he was just going to be elsewhere? The idea was probably to let him play 1B through season 6 and then let him go. His bat is fine, but doesn't have Devers's ceiling.
He doesn't fit, because Cora isn't committed to DHing him 130 Games a year. In '24 when he was hitting well, Cora sat him frequently. It didn't make sense.
The swoon came after a rib strain/injury. He never recovered. Unsure if it bothered him all year, but makes more sense than "he lost weight and forgot how to hit AAA pitching."
IDK, because these guys are so versatile they should go with:
Hamilton to 2b.
Mayer to SS.
Duran/Abreu/Anthony OF.
Masa DH.
Eaton to 3B.
Anyone to platoon C?
Stuck with Contreras at 1B I guess.
Probably have to sit Rafaela against RHP all year. He's even worse against LHP so may have to sit him against those too.
That's my worry with him. One day, it'll just stop being the same. I think with Paredes, you know what you got if you throw him at 3b. With Suarez, it could get worse.
You don't want to have to deal with platoon splits. You want guys that can hit RHP/LHP equally and can go 162. If you have a bench bat, fine. The preference is towards starters that can hit RHP and LHP. Breslow has said as much.
I'd hold my nose at a Suarez signing and hope it's for only 2 years. I think he'd be my plan D, but it's fine. I think it's better than running out a Romy/DHam platoon at 2b.