We might not have a real 40man roster crunch, this winter, but I agree on Casas.
People see some studs jumping to the bigs and think anyone and everyone can.
Sure, some GMs might wait too long, and the super 2 rule keeps some deserving prospects down, but there is nothing about Casas that screams he is ML ready now or will be in just a couple hundred more PAs.
BTW, he is rule 5 in winter 2022, so he likely will be given a shot at some point in 2022, assuming he is deserving of one by then.
Speaking of this winter's 40 man roster issues, we do have a few rule 5 players we will or may want to protect.
Jarren Duran (if he's not added before December)
Jeter Downs
Brayan Bello
Gilberto Jimenez
Josh Winchowski
Maybe?
Thaddeus Ward
Durbin Feltman
Frank German
Kelb Ort
Tyreque Reed
Let's say we protect 6-7 from this list.
They fill the 6 free agent slots vacated by Barnes, ERod, Ottavino, Marwin, Santana & Workman, leaving us at 39 or 40.
We certainly will be active in the free agent market, perhaps hyper active. We will need at least a closer (re-sign Barnes?), a top set-up man (bring back Ottavino?) and a SP'er (ERod back?).
Here are the possible trade and DFA candidates currently on our 40 man roster:
Trade someone who will be a FA after 2022? I think not.
JD (has opt out, this winter), Bogey (opt out after 2022), Eovaldi, Kike, Plawecki or the 2021 team option players: Richards, Perez & Andriese (Sawamura-option after '22)
More likely, some players from this list:
Brandon Brennan
Marcus Wilson
Matt Andriese
Hudson Potts
Franchy Cordero
Connor Wong
Eduard Bazardo
Jay Groome
Jonathan Arauz
I see 4 or 5 easy names on this list, which might be how many FAs we sign.