Left-hander Garrett Crochet figures to be one of the top trade candidates this offseason, recently getting the top spot on MLBTR’s list. White Sox general manager Chris Getz doesn’t seem to be too concerned with hiding Crochet’s availability, telling Bruce Levine of 670 The Score that Sox are looking to get position players back in return.
“We are focusing on position player return,” Getz said. “That is our primary focus in any trade talks. The right players have to be there. We can’t force anything. We certainly need to improve our offense. That is very clear.”
The Sox obviously need to improve everything, since they just wrapped up the worst season of the modern baseball era, but the offense could definitely be upgraded. The club hit a collective .221/.278/.340 in 2024. Their wRC+ of 75 indicates that the team as a whole was about 25% worse than the league average hitter. That was easily the worst mark in the league, with the Rockies a distant second-last with a wRC+ of 82. The Sox also subtracted from their lineup by trading Tommy Pham, Eloy Jiménez and Paul DeJong at last year’s deadline.
Upgrading that offense is an understandable priority, though they will have to assess any trade offers on their overall merits. The club presumably wouldn’t take a package of mediocre position players over really good pitchers just because that’s their target, but the preference could be notable.
It’s also understandable since pitching can be mercurial. Many hyped-up prospects get injured or simply don’t live up to their pedigree. Even the prospects that do pan out can have lengthy absences due to elbow or shoulder surgeries. As such, it’s not uncommon for rebuilding clubs to focus on building a position player core, later adding pitching through trade or free agency.
The Sox also don’t really have any core position players that would block any new guys that would come over in a potential trade. Andrew Benintendi, Andrew Vaughn and Luis Robert Jr. are set for free agency after three more years and the club is surely willing to listen to offers on any of them. The rest of the roster doesn’t have many other guys that could really be called established major leaguers.
Whatever the eventual trade package, it seems highly likely that Crochet will be available and highly coveted, which is why MLBTR gave him the top spot on our trade candidates list. Crochet was a high draft pick that quickly made his major league debut, but spent a few years either working out of the bullpen or being injured. Coming into 2024, he had just 85 1/3 professional innings on his track record over the 2020 through 2023 seasons. The Sox stretched him out in 2024 and he eventually tossed 146 innings with a 3.58 earned run average, 35.1% strikeout rate, 5.5% walk rate and 45.1% ground ball rate.
Those unique circumstances contribute to his availability. Despite the limited track record, he has racked up over four years of service time and is now just two years away from the open market. Given how bad the Sox were in 2024, it’s hard to envision them returning to contention in that time frame.
They could sign Crochet to an extension but he is on track to hit free agency after his age-27 season. That means he has a massive amount of future earning power and may not want to give that up, especially to stay with a franchise that is in disarray and reportedly for sale. Crochet did say he’s open to extension conversations but also seemed to acknowledge that it wasn’t likely to come together. Looking at MLBTR’s Contract Tracker, the White Sox have never given any player more than the $75MM deal they gave to Benintendi.
If Crochet isn’t a part of the long-term plans, then it makes sense to listen to trade offers. The Sox were already shopping him at the deadline a few months ago but couldn’t nail down a deal. Given that Crochet was pushing his workload beyond his previous levels, there were concerns about how he would hold up down the stretch and into a playoff run in October.
The lefty and his camp indicated that they would want to sign a contract extension before risking his health by being a part of such a postseason push, which seemed to scuttle the chances of a deal coming together. The Sox kept him and backed off his usage as they played out the string on their woeful season, not letting Crochet pitch more than four innings in any outing after the month of June.
Those concerns figure to be dissipated now. Crochet held up enough to get his innings total reasonably close to a full starter’s workload, meaning he and any team employing him could reasonably expect him to hold up for a full season, even if that means taking the ball in the month of November. The Sox now have the advantage of potentially marketing him to all teams, whereas presumably the clubs contending in 2024 had more interest at the deadline.
His appeal to other clubs will go beyond his performance. Due to missing so much time earlier in his career due to injury, he hasn’t yet been able to push his salary up too high. He qualified for arbitration for the first time a year ago but only made $800K, barely above this year’s $740K league minimum. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a $2.9MM salary for Crochet next year, with the lefty due for another bump via arbitration in 2026.
For a pitcher of Crochet’s caliber, there’s tremendous surplus value there. Veteran back-end guys like Martín Pérez, Wade Miley and Alex Wood signed deals in the $8-8.5MM range last winter while the top pitchers have gone beyond $40MM in terms of average annual value. To get an ace-like performance for a salary barely above the league minimum is a tremendous bargain.
It also could be hugely important for clubs that pay the competitive balance tax. There are varying tax levels depending on how many consecutive years a club has been a tax payor and how far above the base threshold they are, but ticking all the boxes can get a club to a 110% tax rate. That means that paying a pitcher a deal with a $20MM salary would add another $22MM in taxes, just as a hypothetical example. Saving that money and getting Crochet instead would naturally be very attractive.
All of that adds up to make Crochet one of the most interesting players for the coming months and it gives Getz an incredibly important decision in shaping the future of his franchise. He is likely going to be spending a good deal of his winter on the phone, assessing different offers from all over the league.
The White Sox are so desperate for offense they’d probably trade Crochet for a hot dog vendor if he can bat over .200. Meanwhile, Crochet’s arm might just end up costing less than a year’s supply of churros at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Hot dog yum
in that neighborhood, that would be one churro
Cards got a bunch of catchers and infielders. Make it happen
Sure call them
As it should be. The Sox are loaded with high prospect pitching. Position players are at a premium in their system.
Crochet for Mayo or Mayer. That’s what makes the most sense I think. Both the Orioles and the Red Sox are trying to win in 2025 and each can afford to lose a top prospect.
That would be a good trade for both the Orioles or Red Sox.
How bout Mayo and Mayer? Croch could take megabus back n forth between bean and crab townes
how could he pitch with that indigestion
I think Sox would rather have quantity than a 1 for 1. Think 3 or 4 guys less heralded but still top ten organizational talent (from an organization in the top half prospect wise) for Crochet.
I don’t know about that Jswag. They still have Robert and Vaughn to trade too. Getting a near can’t miss prospext would be huge for them.
Do you mean someone like near-can’t-miss prospects such as Vaughn and Roberts?
Some prospects miss. Doesn’t mean you stop trading. Vaughn isn’t terrible and Robert is a good player they will trade soon.
There’s a difference between making intelligent trades and trading for the sake of trading.
The White Sox are trading Crochet that’s a near guarantee and it would be intelligent for them to do so.
The Red Sox and Orioles are both in win now mode. Both teams need a top of the rotation lefty starter.
This is how trades happen champ.
It has to be intelligent for both sides. Crochet has no track record as a TOR starting pitcher due to health problems. If the Red Sox or Orioles want a real TOR starter, there are proven studs out there.
Who is out there better than Crochet?
Burnes and Fried. That’s about it. And if someone else signs those 2 guys then Crochet makes a ton of sense. You think they should sign Fried to a 7 year deal instead? You just said in another post those long term deals are risky.
Snell is out there. Where did I say seven years for Fried, who, by the way, is proven in ways that Crochet isn’t?
Since the White Sox are in a complete rebuild, wouldn’t it make sense to keep Crochet longer to help ease health concerns? If he pitches well for the White Sox in the interim, he’ll be worth more if they trade him later.
How many years do you think Fried is getting champ?
Crochet has proven he can pitch at an ace level. Waiting to trade him wont increase his value unless he pitches far better than 2024 which would be tough to do.
Mayo for Crochet is still a terrible proposal for the Orioles.
Maybe with Crochet the Orioles can win a playoff series. Because thats what it’s about Floch not prospects.
It would likely have to be more than just mayer or mayo for crochet. Crochet had shown he can be dominant at mlb level. Mayo looked bad in his brief debut, and both he and mayer are still unknowns at that level. But either plus a high upside system prospect probably gets it done.
The Orioles can simply keep Mayo and sign a good SP in free agency, of which there are plenty this year.
Mayo barely had a chance to play. Mayer has done nothing but succeed. 1 for 1 should be enough imo. Vaughn and Robert could be added perhaps I think the Whote Sox trade all 3 by mid-season at the latest.
I don’t recall the last time the Orioles signed a top end free agent. What’s the biggest free agent contract they ever gave to a starting pitcher? It’s not a big one. I believe it when I see it.
For roughly the 7th time now, Orioles ownership changed at the beginning of the 2024 season, so all of the past data is basically irrelevant now, and the new owner has explicitly said that he wants a World Series ASAP and that he will provide the necessary resources to fund that pursuit.
I really do not understand why you continue to ignore that and push a narrative based entirely on the behavior of a regime that is completely out of power now. It’s so bizarre.
No it’s not. They cheaped out at the deadline. They haven’t extended anyone. They have done nothing to suggest they are big spenders.
That’s what you want to believe. I am from Missouri. That’s the show me state. I will believe it when I see it.
Ma4170-
I agree that the ChiSox would want more than just Mayo for Crochet, which makes it an even worse idea for the Orioles.
Flock you talking out both sides of your mouth now.
Who cheaped out at the deadline, metsin4? Certainly not the Orioles, who took on a bunch of payroll for both 2024 and 2025 in deadline trades.
And Rubenstein took over right at the start of the 2024 season and since extensions generally do not occur during the season, saying that he hasn’t extended anyone isn’t exactly an indictment of him as an owner.
How so, BITA? How is pointing out that you are intentionally ignoring relevant data “talking out both sides” of my mouth?
Dave Rubenstein is the owner of the Baltimore Orioles now, not John Angelos or Peter Angelos, and this is his very first offseason as owner. He has said that a WS is the goal. He has said that he wants that WS sooner rather than later. He has said that he will commit financial resources to pursuing that WS. And he is a local Baltimore guy, a multi-billionaire, and a lifelong Orioles fan.
It’s certainly possible that he is lying, but there is absolutely no particular reason to think that he is at this point.
What is your suggestion for an offer from Baltimore.
CSE- Not sure if you are talking to me since MLBTR’s comments system is kind of a mess, but if you are asking me, my offer is nothing because I would not pursue a trade for Crochet.
Okay so you’re out on Crochet for Orioles. Why are you out on the O’s targeting Crochet?
The Orioles do not have an elite farm system anymore after graduating and trading so many guys in the last 2 years, and there should be tons of available payroll this offseason, so I do not want to give up a prospect haul for him when we can just sign someone comparable in free agency.
I do also have some concerns about his durability and his ability to repeat his 2024 performance.
32 starts from him equaled 146 innings. He’s a glorified relief pitcher
They were intentionally cutting his starts short because he had pitched so many innings already. Next year he will pitch more if he’s healthy.
Mike Marshall pitched 208 innings out of the bullpen in 1974.
Yeah I don’t think crochet can take a lot of pitches…
But this year he was capped which is why it’s so low
This is my issue with him. Even with good pitchers in the modern version of the game finding a high end starter who can’t pitch a lot of innings and is injury prone is not that hard. Don’t give up any prospects unless you know that pitcher will be capable of leading your rotation in October. Otherwise, sign a guy like Walker Buehler.
It’s sad since buehler used to be that guy you would let carry you through october
However not many people can survive 2 surgery’s
Maybe Jacob degrom can but remains to be seen
I’d rather take a flier on a guy I don’t have to trade away any players for and won’t cost nearly as much to sign long term, as well as a guy whose already proven it at the major league level in the playoffs, than to sign a converted reliever with an arm injury history who has never proven he can handle the work load of a top of the rotation playoff caliber starter.
Buehler could be a total bum in 2025. He didn’t have a good 2024. He pitched a few good postseason innings thats it. He was a bum for most of the year.
So could Crochet but I don’t need to trade top prospects for Walker or sign him to a crazy extension.
Buehler is going to cost more to sign than Crochet will make in arbitration. And while anything can happen Crochet is the safer bet as it stands right now. And he’s also a lefty which the Red Sox and Orioles need.
Crochet has made it very clear he won’t pitch too many innings even if his team is in the playoffs without an extension. Trading top prospects for the idea of a good pitcher is dumb. Don’t pay Porsche prices for a guy who might be a Ford Pinto.
That was last season he wasn’t talking about every year just last year.
Pitchers are risky. But if you don’t have top pitching you won’t win, especially in October.
2 people liked that comment? Already??? What you said didn’t make any sense.
Pitching is risky. Why would I pay premium prices for a guy who has been in the league and has never proven at all he could be the guy? He’s never had a dominant year as a starting pitcher with a full workload. This isn’t like trading for Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Gerritt Cole, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, or any other big time guy that’s been traded for in the past decade or two. He couldn’t even hold up last year by the end his numbers were dropping.
Give me Max Fried, Walker Buehler, or Shane Bieber at a cheaper long term deal with no lost prospects.
Bieber is hurt. Buehler sucked for most of the year. And Fried is getting a gigantic contract.
It’s all a gamble. Crochet has a ton of value.
Bieber and Fried at least proved they can be the guy it’s not theoretical and again they cost zero prospects.
Bieber is hurt dude. Not coming back anytime soon.
Fried is gonna cost a ton. If you want a top end starter without handing out a giant contract Crochet is a good option
JLA2131
32 starts from him equaled 146 innings.
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just to let you know he was on an innings limit due to previous injuries.
The new White Sox regime is very interesting because they seem to have a very coherent overall strategy – that being, acquire as much pitching as possible and figure out the rest later. Their OD rotation will probably consist of five starters with full team control remaining, and they have the top 2 LHP prospects in baseball., plus a bunch of other MLB-ready starters. Probably the strongest overall organization in baseball in the starting position department.
That sounds like a Seattle Mariners recipe for leading the league in ERA and missing the playoffs.
may I interest you in nacho alvarez
Nacho Libre’ …….?
Bichette for Crochet. Done
Boston is the most logical destination then. Top premium prospects at positions they really need to address. I’m curious to see what a fair Boston package would be.
Mayer 1 for 1 is probably about right. Anthony for Crochet and Vaughn would be fun. Red Sox would then have to deal Casas or Yoshida.
Mayer 1 for 1 is probably about right. Anthony for Crochet and Vaughn would be fun. Red Sox would then have to deal Casas or Yoshida.
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Vaughn has a career bWAR of 1.1 in 4 seasons. I don’t see the appeal. And we aren’t giving up 6+ seasons of Anthony for 2 seasons of Crochet.
Where is Anthony going to play? He gonna replace the 8 win centerfielder? I doubt it. Move him to a corner and he’s less valuable that way.
Anthony is going to be a star he will probably play right field. He’s not the defender that Rafaela is in center and Rafaela full time in center would push Duran to left.
White Sox probably want more diversity in their package. Like a mini-me version of the Sale deal. Mayer may be easiest to conceptualize. However, it may not tickle the pickle that’s staring them down south side.
I think Campbell, Meidroth, Romero, Early would be an interesting offer. Let Boston keep their top 2 guys, take some fliers on bats that should hit, and a left handed starter that has a shot
Campbell is a righty hitter the Red Sox need those they need to trade lefties.
I am sure the White Sox would want Anthony or Mayer. The other details could be worked out.
I agree on Campbell. I don’t see him leaving. Mayer is close enough, but we’ll need a long-term SS. Anthony is too much.
I think the solution would be to expand the trade. Crochet + Robert for Ceddanne + something pretty good.
White Sox don’t need Raffaela they need prospects. And the Red Sox really dont need Robert.
Franklin Arias has gotten a lot of prospect capital, is he someone to hold or move?
Whose Fabio?
His value isn’t as crazy high Id imagine.. sure he had a great season but he was a relief pitcher not even a year ago and was already asking for a new contract
Agreed. Crochet finally pitched more than 100 innings this year. I don’t think he has proven durability.
Of course, if he had proven durability, his cost would be higher.
His value is crazy high. His upside is huge and the league knows it.
Sale Lite.
that’s manea bro haven’t you heard
Blake Perkins, Tyler Black, Mike Boeve, and Eric Brown Jr to the Sox. Crochet to the Brewers.
I would hold out for Roman Anthony from the Red Sox, who would be able to take over CF after the White Sox get around to unloading Luis Robert.
Interesting idea Brick watched Anthony for the last two years he’s going to be superstar. I mean a 1 for 1 Anthony for Crochet and his two years of control would have to be thought about. I would prefer to trade Mayer, Abreu, and another guy in the 20-30 range in an extremely deep Red Sox farm. I could see Breslow trading Anthony though which I think would be a mistake.
Bruin: I doubt they will trade Anthony. I’m not sure what to think about Crochet right now. He finally pitched more than 100 innings this year. I have doubts about him being an innings eater. I think he may turn out to be a reliever.
All I’m not advocating Anthony I absolutely would not trade Anthony for Crochet. I just think Breslow might, he really seems to be focused on pitching and Crochet seems to tick the boxes of Breslow’s type. I think it would be a mistake I really think Anthony is going to be special. I really see Anthony, Casas, Devers, Teel, and Campbell just making Boston an elite lineup for years to come. Throw in Duran with those five and it’s a scary lineup. Throw in a couple more Right handed bats like Grissom or Meidroth and a solid right handed DH. What a lineup.
Not happening. Boston hangs up the phone.
lmao
Josh smith and Ezekiel Duran it is happening
I disagree.
Walcott and Lieter probably gets it done
I think the Cubs are a good trade partner for Crochet.
Agreed… Caissie or Triantos plus another lower prospect would be a solid trade on both ends, in my opinion.
Dear Dave Dombrowski, now that we know the Sox are seeking hitters:
p..l..e..a..s..e..
Sit this one out.
Dear Dave Dombrowski, now that we know the Sox are seeking hitters:
p..l..e..a..s..e..Sit this one out.
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Painter for Crochet?
Painter+ to Boston
Anthony to Philly
think maybe they’d be open to McNeil and Marte, to start?
LOL
Absolutely not. They are a rebuilding team, those McNeil and Marte are the exact opposite of what they want.
There needs to be a documentary on how it got this bad for the White Sox.
Miles Mastrobuoni and Patrick Wisdom and a crochet set for Garrett Crochet. That’s pretty one sided on the white Sox side. They’re getting a Crochet set. So it’ll be like he never left.
That was just stupid!!
How about Crochet for Gavin Lux, Andy Pages, Kyle Freeland, Diego Cartaya and Nick Fraser.
I’m a Dodger fan. They would be nuts to give that much for an injury-plagued pitcher with one half-season of success under his belt. Andrew Friedman is on record for saying that he doesn’t make stupid trades, which is what this would be. When has he ever traded so much for one player?
That’s not even a good package from the Dodgers.
It’s a good package in that Freeland figures to be the Dodgers’ SS beginning in 2026, and Pages should be a starting OF for several years. There’s no good reason to include those two in such a trade.
I can see Crochet going to Texas or Atlanta. Baltimore makes the most sense but they don’t trade prospects. The Phillies and Rays could also make a play.
Baltimore trades prospects. Rangers make a lot of sense. Braves don’t have the prospects to get him. Phillies i don’t think trade their prospects and Rays I doubt they do either
Atlanta doesn’t have what the Sox want.
The Red Sox have the prospect capital to easily get it done and without trading Anthony, Campbell or Teel.
The real question is does Boston want him. I think Breslow does it’s just a question of cost.
Crochet to Cincinnati for Noevi Marte, graham ashcraft and Sal Stewart. Enough for a deal
Watching him pitch Mr. Crochet is Sandy Koufax, Steve Carlton, and Vida Blue in their best years. This past season.
In reality he’s a 2-year rental.
Am sure his agent will push for an extension before that happens.
How many teams will be willing to trade 2-3 top prospects with 6 years of control for a player with his injury history, realizing that if they don’t give him a 2-3 year extension at the time of the trade he and his agent might hold that against them in 2 years and hit the FA market to find another team……if he’s still doing well.
One of the most difficult FA’s to handicap. Will take a high-risk team with high revenues to eat the money if it comes to that. Also helps to have a deep farm system to replace the prospects traded away. Dodgers come to mind first. Maybe the Padres. Mets have the money but not sure Stearns would advise Cohen to take the risk.
This will be interesting.
I hope the mets take the risk. He can be dominant as you were saying in your comparisons. I dont get the sense stearns wants to deal too much of the farm depth though. Maybe a package like Jett williams, ryan clifford, and young upside like jeremy rodriguez? Does that even get it done?
realizing that if they don’t give him a 2-3 year extension at the time of the trade he and his agent might hold that against them in 2 years
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One might consider an extension to be a feature, not a bug. I doubt Crochet would sign a 3-year extension, but that could be gold. That’s ages 26-30. I’d make the trade and put $75M/3 on the table.
Get on the horn, Elias.
There’s no reason for the Orioles to trade from their significantly diminished farm system for a SP when they can just sign someone in free agency.
We’ll see if they spend money,
I’ll pass. Asking for an extension before agreeing to pitch in the playoffs is not the makeup of a winner. This guy smells like cancer and the Sox can’t wait to get rid of him.
I don’t see Crochet going to a large market team. They can just pay for pitching..
I could see a team like Cincinnati or Tampa Bay making a move. Prospect capital isn’t as big of a deal for those teams but real dollars are. It would be REALLY interesting if the A’s got a deal done. Their offense is looking really good for next year.
It really comes down to cost. It sounds like Getz was asking for the moon at the deadline and nothing got done. If he holds to crazy demands nothing will get done this off-season as well.