The Red Sox will be without for a while after a rib i sue sent him to the injured list. Boston hasnt revealed a timeline beyond comments from manager Alex Cora that the young slugger is in for an extended absence. Casas spoke with reporters yesterday, saying that theres wide variance in the recovery timetable. (Doctors) said anywhere from three weeks to six weeks to nine weeks , the first baseman told the Boston Tyler Heineman Jersey beat ( ). They dont know. Its just depending on how my body is feeling. But for right now, Im still in pain to breathe. While the Sox announced the injury as a rib fracture, Casas clarified that the problem is a tear in the cartilage in his midsection. That may not be particularly consequential in terms of his recovery, since the way that the doctors kind of explained it to me is that one isnt better than the other. [Whether the injury] was a muscle or a bone or cartilage, theyre all similarly timetabled schedules .Despite the uncertainty about the specific timeline, Casas said hes confident hell be able to play a good amount of the season . has taken over at first base. With Dalbec out to an .093/.152/.116 start as his longstanding strikeout i sues continue, the Sox could look outside the organization. Theyve reportedly bringing back , who was in camp this spring but opted out of a minor league deal after he didnt make the Opening Day roster. returned to free agency after being waived by the Rangers, while remains in limbo since being designated for a signment by the Cubs. The Sox will need to piece things together at first base for some time. Theyve gotten better news on the injury front with a few other players, though. is expected to wrap up a rehab a signment with Triple-A Worcester this weekend, Alex Speier of the Boston Globe. Their biggest offseason trade pickup has been out all year after straining a hamstring in Spring Training. Gri som could make his Red Sox debut on Tuesday when they open a series against the Giants. Starter isnt much further behind, as Cora indicated the righty could make a rehab start next week. Pivetta went on the shelf after two starts with the ominous designation of a flexor strain. The team downplayed any long-term concern, however, and it seems hes on track to return around a month after the injury. Pivetta was brilliant over his first two appearances, to sing 11 innings of one-run ball with 13 strikeouts and one walk. Hell be a free agent for the first time at the end of the season, making this a pivotal year for him personally. Depending on his health and the teams competitive outlook, Pivetta could be one of the top rental starters available around the trade deadline. Shawn Green Jersey