Article: BREAKING: Red Sox Trade For White Sox Ace Garrett Crochet

[Caleb Kohn]

The Red Sox are on the board!

The Red Sox are finalizing a deal that would address their biggest need this offseason: finding an ace. Jeff Passan is reporting that the Red Sox are acquiring White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet for a top package of prospects.

Ken Rosenthal reports that the package includes top catching prospect Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, and others.

This trade would be an upgrade to a Red Sox rotation that finished 17th in MLB with a 4.04 ERA. Crochet was the bright spot in an otherwise dismal season for Chicago, posting a 3.58 ERA with an MLB-leading 12.9 K/9. The ace lefty was in the 98th percentile in strikeout percentage (209 strikeouts 146 innings), and though he was on an innings limit in 2024 while transitioning to being a full-time starter, he should be able to push past that in 2025. Crochet has two arbitration seasons left before free agency and is projected to earn just under $3 million this season, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

The expectation across the industry was that it would take a large prospect package to get Crochet's two remaining years of contractual control, but the Red Sox had the depth to meet the White Sox’ high asking price. Former first-round pick Kyle Teel headlines the deal, including first-round picks Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman Gonzalez.

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[Tedballgame]

This is an absolutely terrible trade. Why didn’t they also throw in Mayer and Anthony while they were at it.

[moonslav59]

Meidroth and Wikelman, included. Only Wikelman is on the 40.

[Hitch]

That is incredibly steep.

 

But as we've seen, it's costing big bucks or big prospects to get highly rated pitching.

 

[Duran Is The Man]

too much for an over-hyped, overrated pitcher. and they're still going to have pay Crochet a shitload of money in couple years. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

3 minutes ago, Tedballgame said:

This is an absolutely terrible trade. Why didn’t they also throw in Mayer and Anthony while they were at it.

The most interesting aspect to me is where this puts Sox catching depth. They kinda NEED to make a move for a catcher now and the only way to get a good one is in trade.

[moonslav59]

We needed a "bridge" catcher to Teel, anyway. Now, we need a long term catching solution.

[moonslav59]

Crochet only pitched over 65 innings, once, including college.

This is very risky, but the guy can pitch.

[Hugh2]

Once again, as I've been saying over and over again and even today in another thread.  People will not like the cost to trade for elite cost controlled talent.  

You also won't like what it will cost to pay someone like Burnes. 

I guarantee you will hate it a lot less when this team is in the playoffs

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

A noteworthy chart posted by Sox Stats:

[Old Red]

21 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Crochet only pitched over 65 innings, once, including college.

This is very risky, but the guy can pitch.

Is everyone happy for 2 years of this guy?🤫

[Bellhorn04]

Like everyone is saying, pitching is incredibly expensive, so I'm not shocked at the return.

They did finally make a bold move so I'm not going to complain about this.

 

 

[Old Red]

2 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Like everyone is saying, pitching is incredibly expensive, so I'm not shocked at the return.

They did finally make a bold move so I'm not going to complain about this.

At least he’s a cheapie for 2 yrs, and yes they did make a bold move. 
 

 

 

[Hugh2]

11 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Is everyone happy for 2 years of this guy?🤫

I think there's a good chance he's extended by opening day. 

[moonslav59]

44 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

Once again, as I've been saying over and over again and even today in another thread.  People will not like the cost to trade for elite cost controlled talent.  

You also won't like what it will cost to pay someone like Burnes. 

I guarantee you will hate it a lot less when this team is in the playoffs

 

You called me out, and you were right. I was wrong.

It costs much more than I imagined.

[mvp 78]

23 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

Like everyone is saying, pitching is incredibly expensive, so I'm not shocked at the return.

They did finally make a bold move so I'm not going to complain about this.

The catching situation right now is oofa doofa though. 

Now I'm on the trade for Vaz train since Teel isn't around I guess. 

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I think there's a good chance he's extended by opening day. 

JH isn't going to pay up IMO. Crochet is going to want to go to FA or be overwhelmed. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Brock and Hugh are in -- with me that makes three.

Hate to see Teel go, but they kept their TOP 3, plus their minor league HR leader in The Password, and Bleis, and Arias, and Romero. We're ok.

So, the Red Sox dealt their last two #1 draft picks for a pitcher that was a first rounder. Since Boston barely ever uses its top picks on arms -- and waits to find pitchers once they're proven big leaguers -- isn't this the plan?

And forget about the two years; they're not swapping all that capital if they're not extending this guy. Maybe he's our Wheeler. Let's go.

[redsoxrules]

I would have rather paid Burns 275M+ than this I think.  

[Old Red]

21 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I think there's a good chance he's extended by opening day. 

I would be surprised if he would agree to an extension with two more years to go, and potentially big money to be made after that.It would have to be an awfully good offer, which I don’t see the Red Sox making., so two years may be all they get out of this guy.

[Old Red]

1 minute ago, redsoxrules said:

I would have rather paid Burns 275M+ than this I think.  

But most likely not JH.

[Hugh2]

9 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

JH isn't going to pay up IMO. Crochet is going to want to go to FA or be overwhelmed. 

I was going to make the same argument BUT he supposedly did say last year that any team trading for him better offer him an extension if they want him to pitch in the post season. 

He might be open to an extension. 

It's also very possible that this deal was done with Boston KNOWING what it would take to extend him and we can expect an extension announced at some point this offseason.  Or not. 

[moonslav59]

Why is Vaz everyone's favorite catcher, now. We traded him away for a reason.

He does not get the most out of his staff. He's okay to good on defense and is better than Wong, but at $10M, why?

I'd rather sign Elias Diaz for half that money.

Now that we have Crochet, do we look to add someone like Pivetta plus maybe a pen arm like Yates or Kittredge, and then swap Abreu for a RH'd version of himself?

I'll still be underwhelmed, but at least some sort of effort will have been made.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, redsoxrules said:

I would have rather paid Burns 275M+ than this I think.  

Yes sir. Sox will also have to pay 200M to keep Crochet around anyway. 

Better hope he has a string of CY years in him. 

[Hugh2]

3 minutes ago, redsoxrules said:

I would have rather paid Burns 275M+ than this I think.  

I want both, give me both and now you got a LEGIT 1-2 punch at the top of your rotation

[moonslav59]

4 minutes ago, redsoxrules said:

I would have rather paid Burns 275M+ than this I think.  

Me, too.

But, if JH was going to keep a tight budget, maybe signing him means nobody else for a couple years.

[Hugh2]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

Why is Vaz everyone's favorite catcher, now. We traded him away for a reason.

He does not get the most out of his staff. He's okay to good on defense and is better than Wong, but at $10M, why?

I'd rather sign Elias Diaz for half that money.

Now that we have Crochet, do we look to add someone like Pivetta plus maybe a pen arm like Yates or Kittredge, and then swap Abreu for a RH'd version of himself?

I'll still be underwhelmed, but at least some sort of effort will have been made.

I would still like to raise the bar on the rotation.  If it's not Burnes, I would like a Buehler or maybe even a Flaherty. 

[mvp 78]

Just now, moonslav59 said:

Why is Vaz everyone's favorite catcher, now. We traded him away for a reason.

He does not get the most out of his staff. He's okay to good on defense and is better than Wong, but at $10M, why?

I'd rather sign Elias Diaz for half that money.

Now that we have Crochet, do we look to add someone like Pivetta plus maybe a pen arm like Yates or Kittredge, and then swap Abreu for a RH'd version of himself?

I'll still be underwhelmed, but at least some sort of effort will have been made.

Favorite? It's just another option. He wasn't necessary when Teel was coming up midseason. Now they need a full year guy. Not sure who that will be. Wong just isn't him. 

[mvp 78]

1 minute ago, Hugh2 said:

I would still like to raise the bar on the rotation.  If it's not Burnes, I would like a Buehler or maybe even a Flaherty. 

Buehler is probably a cheaper option TBH. If they wanted Flaherty, they could have had him last year. 

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Hugh2 said:

I want both, give me both and now you got a LEGIT 1-2 punch at the top of your rotation

Crochet/Houck is a legit 1-2 punch if he can pitch like he did last year.