Red Sox Reinforce Rotation with Crochet Trade

Ins and Outs of the Trade

The White Sox received a diverse package in return. Teel, a Top 100 catching prospect nearing major league readiness with impressive speed, adds to their catching depth. Montgomery, a high-risk, high-reward outfield prospect picked in the 2024 draft, brings potential. Gonzalez, with tantalizing stuff but a high walk rate, offers an interesting piece. Meidroth, an on-base genius with questions about power and defensive future, rounds out the package. The White Sox, with multiple needs, focused on getting talent rather than specific profiles.

In Boston, the rotation showed promise in 2024 but wore down. The new approach of using more secondaries instead of fastballs worked initially but faced challenges in the second half. With injuries and Nick Pivetta's departure, the Sox needed more pitching power. Crochet changes that. His combination of a late-inning reliever's fastball, a hard cutter, and a nasty sweeping slider makes him a potential game-changer. When on top of his game, he can dismantle a lineup effortlessly.

Risk and Uncertainty

Crochet's unique usage history poses some risks. He hadn't started a game in the pros before 2024 and was treated carefully in the second half. His workload is uncertain, having thrown only 85.1 innings as a professional before last season. But his dominance in those three months as a traditional starter gives hope for a great future. The Red Sox will take steps to manage this risk, finding him extra rest days and spacing out his starts.

Thanks to his surgery-related absence, Crochet made nearly the league minimum in his first year of arbitration. His projected earnings this year are $2.9 million, with a career total around $10 million. Signing an extension now is important for him financially, and this winter seems the best time.

Benefits for Both Teams

This trade not only makes the Red Sox better in 2025 but also sets them up for the future. Crochet is under team control for two years, and an extension could be beneficial. For the White Sox, they got a package of prospects that fits their rebuilding plan. They are prioritizing depth and volatility, and these prospects have big error bars around their future value.

Dan Szymborski's ZiPS projection shows a positive outlook for Crochet. The model is skeptical of his innings loads but optimistic about his talent. It projects him to average more than three wins a year without building up to more than five innings a start.

Overall, this trade is a significant move for both teams. It enhances the Red Sox's rotation and gives them financial flexibility. For the White Sox, it's part of their rebuilding process. Now, the focus turns to getting a contract extension done, ensuring a bright future for Garrett Crochet.