Red Sox Land Garrett Crochet in Blockbuster Trade with White Sox

11 Dec 2024

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Red Sox Land Garrett Crochet in Blockbuster Trade with White Sox \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Boston Red Sox acquired All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for four prospects during the MLB winter meetings. This move strengthens Boston’s rotation after losing out on free agent Max Fried. Chicago, meanwhile, accelerates its rebuild with a prospect-rich package, reminiscent of their 2016 Chris Sale trade.

Red Sox-White Sox Trade: Quick Looks

Red Sox Acquire Crochet: Boston traded four prospects to secure Garrett Crochet, bolstering their pitching staff.
Chicago’s Return: The White Sox received top prospects Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth, Wikelman Gonzalez, and Braden Montgomery.
Crochet’s Upside: An All-Star with a 97+ mph sinker, Crochet brings elite strikeout potential to Boston’s rotation.
Boston’s Pivot: After missing out on Max Fried, the Red Sox remain active in seeking pitching upgrades.
White Sox Rebuilding: Chicago sees the trade as a major step toward accelerating their organizational rebuild.

Deep Look: Red Sox and White Sox Strike Major Trade

The Boston Red Sox bolstered their starting rotation by acquiring Garrett Crochet, an All-Star left-hander, from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for four prospects. The trade, announced during MLB’s winter meetings, came shortly after Boston lost the bidding war for free agent Max Fried, who signed an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees.

What the Red Sox Gain

Garrett Crochet, 25, brings significant upside to Boston’s rotation. Known for his blazing fastball and strikeout ability, Crochet has emerged as one of the game’s top left-handed starters. Despite pitching for a struggling White Sox team that posted an MLB-worst 41-121 record, Crochet managed a 6-12 record and a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts. His sinker averaged 97.9 mph this season, complemented by a strong arsenal that includes a cutter, sweeper, and changeup.

Boston’s Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow praised Crochet’s potential, stating, “We feel like we’ve added a legitimate No. 1 starter. He’s left-handed, generates tons of swings and misses, and we believe his best years are ahead of him.”

Crochet is arbitration-eligible this offseason and next, with free agency on the horizon after the 2027 season. His addition deepens Boston’s rotation, which already features Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, Kutter Crawford, and recent acquisition Lucas Giolito.

Chicago’s Haul of Prospects

The White Sox received four prospects in the trade:

Kyle Teel: Rated as Boston’s No. 4 prospect, the catcher brings strong offensive skills and defensive versatility.
Chase Meidroth: The infielder, ranked No. 11 among Boston’s prospects, offers a mix of power and plate discipline.
Wikelman Gonzalez: A right-handed pitcher ranked 14th, Gonzalez has shown promise with a mid-90s fastball and improving secondary pitches.
Braden Montgomery: An outfielder ranked 54th, Montgomery adds depth to Chicago’s system with his blend of speed and contact hitting.

White Sox GM Chris Getz called the trade a significant step forward in the team’s rebuilding efforts. “Talk about accelerating a rebuild,” Getz said. “This deal injects the kind of talent that can really reshape our future.”

Crochet’s Journey

Drafted 11th overall by the White Sox in 2020, Crochet made an immediate impact in his rookie season, boasting a 2.82 ERA in 2021 with 65 strikeouts over 54 1/3 innings. However, his career trajectory was disrupted by Tommy John surgery in April 2022, which sidelined him until May 2023.

Despite the setback, Crochet rebounded with a strong 2023 campaign, earning an All-Star nod in his first full season as a starter. His performance generated significant trade interest, with Getz revealing that “around five teams” pursued Crochet aggressively.

Boston’s Pitching Plans

The acquisition of Crochet reflects Boston’s determination to upgrade its rotation after missing out on Max Fried. Breslow emphasized that the team remains active in exploring other pitching options through trades and free agency.

Among the free agents still available is four-time All-Star Corbin Burnes, who posted a 2.92 ERA for Baltimore this season. While Crochet fills a critical need, Boston may not be done reinforcing its staff.

Historical Parallels: The 2016 Chris Sale Trade

The Crochet deal draws comparisons to the 2016 winter meetings trade between the same two clubs, when the White Sox sent ace Chris Sale to Boston for a package of prospects that included Michael Kopech and Yoán Moncada.

While Sale’s time in Boston was marred by injuries, he remains a potent figure in MLB, winning the NL Cy Young Award this season for Atlanta after posting an 18-3 record with a 2.38 ERA.

The White Sox hope this trade yields similar long-term rewards as they rebuild following their disastrous 2023 season.

The Road Ahead

Boston’s acquisition of Garrett Crochet signals an aggressive approach to building a competitive rotation for 2024. With the Yankees securing Max Fried, the Red Sox face an uphill battle in the AL East but have demonstrated a willingness to make bold moves to keep pace.

For Chicago, the deal offers a chance to rejuvenate their farm system and accelerate their rebuild. As both teams pivot toward new goals, the Crochet trade could shape their fortunes for years to come.