Why it’s unlikely the Red Sox would deal Triston Casas to the Marlins for starting pitching

The Red Sox have long seen Triston Casas as a future middle-of-the-order mainstay.John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

The Miami Herald reported over the weekend that the Marlins would be open to dealing “a significant player on their roster” — likely one of their talented young starting pitchers — in exchange for young Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas.

But the likelihood of Casas, a South Florida native who was heavily scouted by the Marlins in 2018 before being taken by the Sox in the first round that year, being dealt to Miami for a starter is low.

The Sox have long seen Casas as a future middle-of-the-order mainstay, a view that limited their interest in Freddie Freeman as a free agent in the 2021-22 offseason and that continues to inform the team’s roster-building.

Had the Sox viewed Casas as a trade chip, they would have held onto Eric Hosmer rather than releasing the veteran, who would have cost them only the big-league minimum.

Because the Sox are unlikely to deal Casas, it does raise questions about whether Boston and Miami will match up in trade talks. The Sox, after agreeing with free agent Corey Kluber on a one-year deal last week, are open to adding a top-half-of-the-rotation starter via trade.

The Marlins view reigning Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara as untouchable, but beyond him, they are open to dealing from a talented group of arms that includes righties Pablo López and Edward Cabrera as well as lefties Trevor Rogers and Jesús Lazardo.

The Marlins are seeking to upgrade their big league lineup in any deal involving their starters. Casas fits that bill. A Sox prospect such as center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, who is expected to open 2023 in Triple A, would not.

The Sox are open to dealing a big league pitcher (potentially including Tanner Houck), but that profile isn’t a great match for Miami’s needs — unless Houck or other Red Sox trade candidates could be dealt elsewhere for a position player.