FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox could have played it safe at first base and kept Eric Hosmer as an insurance policy just in case Triston Casas didn’t seem ready, for whatever reason.

Even though Boston could have had Hosmer at a minimal cost -- the Padres are obligated to pay for the remaining three years of his contract -- chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom threw caution to the wind.

On Dec. 16, Hosmer was designated for assignment. A few weeks later, he was signed by the Cubs.

It was a crystal-clear sign of Boston’s all-in approach regarding Casas, the No. 23 prospect in the game, per MLB Pipeline.

And Casas is fully confident he will make good on the faith the organization has put in him.

“Definitely,” said the 23-year-old Casas. “I think my skills are right up there with anybody's. It didn't matter where [Hosmer] was at in his career, or anybody for that matter. I feel like I can go out and compete with any first baseman, pound for pound.”

This was no diss at Hosmer.

If you want the truth, Casas was bummed that the Red Sox moved on from his long-time mentor. Casas and Hosmer lived near each other in South Florida and spent time together at batting cages. Casas was a stud at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla. That is the same school Hosmer starred at many years earlier. And the two of them shared a clubhouse last season after Hosmer was dealt from San Diego to Boston at the Trade Deadline.

“I was very surprised. I know we gave up Jay [Groome to get Hosmer], and he’s an awesome pitcher,” said Casas. “I knew, in terms of the contract, there were a couple of more years he could have been here. So I did find it a little odd. I was looking forward to getting to play with him.

“That’s stuff that I don’t have control over, and I’m going to miss him because he had a good impact on me in the little time I was there. I wish him the best with Chicago because I know it’s a good opportunity, as well, for him.”

Truth be told, it would have been less than ideal for Boston to have two left-handed hitting first basemen in Casas and Hosmer. But given that Casas didn’t set the world on fire in his first exposure to the Major Leagues last September (.197/.358/.408, five homers in 95 plate appearances), Bloom could have made a case for keeping Hosmer around at least through Spring Training.

Why didn’t he?

“There's gonna be ups and downs with most young players. The ones that stick in our minds is that small handful of guys who just take the league by storm,” Bloom said. “The fact of the matter is, most really good players do not do that. There are going to be ups and downs. Any team, whatever your aspirations, whether you're a veteran team or not, you need to have space for those young players to succeed and be willing to ride out some of those ups and downs. Otherwise, you're never going to see what they can do.”

Casas is all too eager to prove what he can do after a productive winter in which he shed 15 to 20 pounds from his big frame.

“I think I'm the best I've ever felt athletically, physically, mentally,” Casas said. “I'm in the best shape that I’ve ever been in, and I think my skills match up with anybody at first base. And you know, it's going to be an exciting year this year. That vote of confidence [with the Hosmer move] was huge.”

Veteran Justin Turner, signed as a free agent, will get some starts at first base against tough lefties. But for the most part, Casas will be in manager Alex Cora’s lineup.

“He didn’t hit for average, but he got on base at a stupid clip,” said Cora. “And he will get better. He's in a better spot physically. You can see it, he's moving better. He will hit. He's always hit.”

There is an air of excitement within Casas, knowing the opportunity that 2023 represents.

“It's been a lifetime of work,” Casas said. “It's been a combination of so many hours. It’s going to be exciting to see what I can go out there and do."