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
Xander Bogaerts, Campusano, and Cronenworth for Crochet.
3 for 1 plus cash
Why would the rebuilding White Sox do that?
Because i want to move Xander
Vegas: Interesting, but remember, this is Getz. He’ll probably take two rookie league prospects and one from High-A, players that will never make the majors. The other GMs know how easy it is to pick that moron’s pocket.
Why would the Padres agree to that
(unless it is just a salary dump)?!
A starting, young catcher, an above average major league infielder and a power hitting infielder with a big contract?!
I don’t know…. Crochet may turn out to be a Cy Young contender.
But ….. The White Sox lost 121 games. That doesn’t say Mitch for their pitching.
The Cardinals already got Fedde for Tommy Edman. Fedde didn’t show much down the stretch for the Cards.
I think hitting was way more of a problem than our pitching.
Hitting, defense, the bullpen, baserunning…basically, everything aside from starting pitching, which was mediocre overall.
Cards got a bunch of catchers and infielders. Make it happen
Sure call them
I doubt St Louis will get involved. Crochet only has 2 years of control left and the Cards seems to just be in the beginning stages of a full scale rebuild. I feel for Cardinal fans because the next couple of years with all the losses are going to be very strange to them.
Actually, they just signed a multi year TV deal and it sounds like they’re just going to be trading one position player who wants out.
did you read that article? their new deal is for ~$17m less per year than their previous deal and the contracts they want to trade said they won’t waive their ntc
That’s true, but $17 million less is still a lot of money coming in to the Cardinals.
I’m sure, the Owners —- just like the fans are just happy they got a deal worth having, done at all.
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.
Kabong – Crochet only has 2 years of team control left. Not enough time to build value by having him pitch more to develop a track record.
And what if he did pitch well and go deeper into games? A midseason 2025 trade would then mean a team acquiring him *didn’t* get the benefit of those good innings early in 2025, but would be getting the riskier late-season innings where Crochet pushes to a new career high innings total.
Plus the White Sox would be taking the risk of Crochet getting injured before a trade.
So I’d say generally a pretty bad risk/return trade-off for the White Sox to have him pitch for them in 2025.
Realist with the realist answer about Crochet. Value doesn’t increase with less team control unless you’re talking 4-5 years. Taking one off two would decidedly reduce the return.
Thanks, and Gr8 summary
Who ya calling champ, champ?
PRICE is going to be the main selling point to the Red Sox and Orioles.
That’s a gamble. If he breaks down in May, the trade value will be next to zero. Now is the best time to unload him for the largest return.
Burnes’ numbers have been down since he won the CYA. He’s certainly not bad, but despite being innings-restricted, Crochet got 4.7fWAR, 1 more than Burnes in almost 50 fewer innings. 1.3 more than Fried in almost 30 fewer innings.
If you want to say he has a shorter track record, that’s totally fair, but this year, he was clearly the best pitcher of that trio.
I’m sure fans of other teams would love to give up just their #4, 8, and 14 guys for Crochet, but I don’t think the Sox should consider that. They need an offensive force in the high minors, i.e., mostly done developing since they suck at developing bats. Being solid defensively would help, too. I’d rather one near surefire prospect than a couple of guys who could be average-ish starters and a lottery ticket.
Unless it’s to Atlanta. Which case, 20 for 1. Or 300. Like Sparta
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.
Hey if the Orioles sign a top end starter then great. But if they don’t they can make a trade. They are getting 2 draft picks for Burnes and Santander they have more than enough prospects to trade.
Maybe they trade for a starter or sign a hitter or vice versa.
You didn’t explain how I was “talking out both sides” of my mouth.
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 pretty comparable in free agency.
I do also have some concerns about his durability and his ability to repeat his 2024 performance.
Don’t you worry that he won’t be available in free agency? Crochet’s camp clearly wants an extension and a trade with come with an extension.
I’m not worried about Crochet, I am saying that we should be able to sign a different TOR type SP in free agency without giving up a big prospect package.
So no to Crochet, but yes to Kikucki or someone like that. It’s not a bad idea. My preference is LHP 97+ with decently priced contract. But each their own.
The Sox don’t need a prospect. They need a major league-caliber position player who can hit.
There is a decidedly non-zero chance that Mayo is not a player.
He had 62 Ks in 217 ABs in AAA in 2023, and 97 Ks in 345 AAA ABs in 2024. That probably translates to 200 Ks in 600 ABs in the pros. And he’s committed 59 errors in 2497 IPs at 3rd.
IMO, the WS can do much better.
The defense is more legitimate of an issue. The striking out is an adjustment issue. During the minors, he was noticeably a slower adjuster; however, what is relevant is that he always made the adjustment and succeeded. This time in the bigs in ’24 was far too brief for any corrections.
Too bad Getz is gm. He lacks the ability to acquire top talent in a trade
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.
This pains me to say and if he’s a man of his word he can’t read this cause I’m blocked but Pinky is correct. He had thrown less than 100 innings between 2020-2023. Consider 2024 an in season extended spring training for him. Man just went 50% above his career total for innings let’s not call him glass because it wasn’t higher.
Yeah its well known that when he made his trade demand about an extension and then wasnt moved that they reduced him to 3-4 inn a start to manage innings
Yes, but at that time, there were only a few teams that were willing to pay up for a much-needed pitcher. Now, the Sox can entertain offers from more teams and, hopefully, get more (read better) players in return.
Mike Marshall pitched 208 innings out of the bullpen in 1974.
Nice stat Ralph Michaels
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
Bieber and Fried at least proved they can be the guy it’s not theoretical and again they cost zero prospects.
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I’d love for my RS to sign Bieber, but let’s not pretend he injuries don’t make him a risk. And let’s not pretend a $200M contract isn’t a risk.
The fact is that every player is a risk. I’d much rather gamble on Crochet for two years than Fried for 7 years.
Ace – I don’t think it’s as easy as you say.
Setting to a minimum of 100 IP in 2024, Crochet’s FIP (2.69) is 5th in MLB. And 15th place is about 0.5 runs/9 higher.
His ERA doesn’t look so shiny: Crochet’s 2024 ERA was 46th in MLB among pitchers with 100+ innings. *But* – the White Sox were the worst fielding team in MLB according to both Statcast fielding run value and DRS. So there’s good reason to think his 2024 ERA was inflated by having that terrible defense playing behind him.
If only top of the rotation starters threw 100 innings a year. 4 of the top starters for the Yankees threw at least 150 innings in the regular season alone. By your logic Mariano Rivera was one of the greatest starters of all time if we only look at pitchers who’ve thrown a minimum of 50 innings in a season.
Ace – What I was addressing is you saying that “finding a high end starter who can’t pitch a lot of innings and is injury prone is not that hard”.
I’m pointing out that it *is* hard to find pitchers who have Crochet’s run prevention stats even if they don’t throw many innings.
I see no way that Crochet is a performance risk. An injury risk maybe. But even at the end of the season, even with the reduced innings, he was just about unhittable, He had a 42/3 K/w in his last 25.1 IPs in 9 starts. with a 1.23 FIP
That’s unbelievably good. Snell was fantastic once he shook off the rust, maybe the best in the league after June, and he wasn’t nearly as good.
It’s not that he can’t, it’s that they didn’t let him. Now that he showed he can pitch without any issues, he’ll pitch without limitations based on the possibility of injuries.
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.
I bet the mariners could lead the league in offense and still miss the playoffs
may I interest you in nacho alvarez
Nacho Libre’ …….?
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.
I too believe Vaughn has little trade value. Limited to 1b/DH and had a ops+ of 99 last season.
Anthony steps in as the RF, and I assume Abreu moves on. Two seasons of Crochet will not get the #1 prospect. And I would love to get Crochet, but not at that price.
And Vaughn continues to have no value.
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?
Would Abreu and Mayer (plus) for Crochet and Robert work. Shift Rafaela to short, Robert to CF and roll Anthony into OF with Duran?
Arias is a long ways off. Red Sox might want to hold onto him and the other shortstop prospect they signed at the same time and see who works out.
Isn’t that why he’d be a good candidate for the Red Sox to trade? Or is it just better or easier to trade closer to the bigs prospects?
I think guys who are a long ways off are super risky and therefore best left with their current teams. In the case of Arias they signed him and another guy and I think they gotta keep both and see who works out. They need a shortstop long term if Mayer has to move to 3b and Devers 1b.
Sure, they are very far away and they are good for planning to the future. You probably want to avoid the Tatis jr. situation.
The Red Sox are not short on prospect talent to trade. They have Mayer, Anthony and Campbell any could be a headliner for a deal. With Anthony specifically he really doesn’t have a place to play. Maybe they trade Abreu but the White Sox don’t need him.
Why don’t the White Sox need Abreu? Anthony and Abreu are similar in they have strong defensive corner outfield profiles with power. Obviously Anthony is higher rated prospect due to his tools and projection but they aren’t very different right now.
Abreu has a year and a half less team control. That’s a big deal for a rebuilding club.
Would Abreu and Mayer (plus) for Crochet and Robert work. Shift Rafaela to short, Robert to CF and roll Anthony into OF with Duran?
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I don’t think Rafaela is a SS I like the matchup of Crochet + Robert, and would give value back, but I am not crazy about this fit.
Crochet and Robert for Anthony is about right.
Interesting, so do you think the White Sox get hung up on this difference on Abreu and can’t be convinced by adding more prospect capital? I can’t blame them.
On the flip side, I think Bosox don’t have a big incentive to move Anthony over Abreu or Mayer. Add that Robert is a bit redundant positionally. This doesn’t feel like a winner. It feels like a reach the Bosox would move their top guy considering how unusual his rise has happened.
Maybe Campbell and Abreu could work. I think the White Sox would prefer a prospect over Abreu but he’s a solid looking player with 5 years of team control and they do need outfielders. The Red Sox need to trade lefty hitters though and Campbell is a righty. Maybe the perfect fit isn’t there but it’s close.
I would offer them: Abreu, Grissom, Romero, and Yoshida with as much of his salary paid as they want.
Abreu is already a quality major leaguer they can start building around but still very young with tons of control and growth ahead of him. Romero doesn’t have to necessarily be Romero. We’ve got a hundred middle infielder types, I’m fine trading any of them except for Mayer, Campbell, and Cespedes. Grissom probably lost some believers this year but still has plenty of time to turn it around and be a quality big leaguer. I think he could use a fresh start somewhere else with lower expectations out of the gate. Yoshida obviously doesn’t help them get back to contention, but with his salary heavily if not entirely subsidized at least puts a playable Major League bat in their lineup right now, just for the sake of pride. And as long as his performance doesn’t fall off a cliff, without the weight of his contract he would be somebody they could turn around and trade this summer for more prospects once you’ve got a contender desperate to find somebody who can give them quality AB’s.
That might not get all the way across the finish line, but I’d think it would have to be at least an interesting starting point unless another team comes in and completely blows them away with something crazy.
Yoshida brings nothing to the table for the rebuilding White Sox.
Only if they have to pay his contract. If he’s playing for free because Boston’s paying his salary and he continues to hit, that’s someone they can turn into 2 more prospects in the summer trade market. They are at square zero, if there was such a thing you could even say they’re even at square negative one. They aren’t going to get 5 or 6 awesome prospects for one guy in this day and age, their organization is so barren they need to be open to taking on less-heralded big leaguers to try and turn into additional trade assets as they embark on the job of rebuilding their farm system.
And again I realize that it probably takes at least one more prospect getting added in from Boston’s end, that’s fine. Like I said, I was trying to hash out a framework that could get a conversation started. With that being the goal I stand by what I said.
An essentially free Yoshida with 3 years of team control does
Whose Fabio?
He’s a shortstop for Seattle.
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.
The Cubs certainly have the prospects but it’s gonna take at least three decent prospects to net a Crochet, who in many respects is the perfect acquisition for almost any team.
Works for the Cubs if they want to attempt to win the division next season. Crochet will get less than 3m and they have a surplus of position players. Cubs would still be like 50m under the tax and could get Bregman, a few set up men, and a closer.
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.
=========================
Painter for Crochet?
Painter+ to Boston
Anthony to Philly
Not trading Painter…we have two hitting prospects Miller and Crawford..they aren’t going anywhere…so probably not getting Crochet…..
think maybe they’d be open to McNeil and Marte, to start?
LOL
no need to laugh, PINHEAD. it was a conversation starter… ya know… an opportunity to have an engaged conversation as an adult
No need to get hostile, KID, an adult would not offer 2 aging, often injured, high salaried players to a team that has very possibly the #1 player on the trade market to an organization that set a record for losses and is looking for 2-4 players with 5-6 years of control each to anchor a rebuild.
There is nothing quite like New York baseball fans on here. Think everyone else is stupid, offering their garbage for the other teams best players. Fact is that it’s the New Yorkers that use arrogance to shield their stupidity, then come the insults.
I did it one better kid.
Absolutely not. They are a rebuilding team, those McNeil and Marte are the exact opposite of what they want.
fair response, thank you. hoping the Mets can get away from these contracts, figured it be worth a conversation to see what other readers though. thanks for the chime in
There needs to be a documentary on how it got this bad for the White Sox.
There is a video on YouTube about what brought Sox to their current state
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 know the Rockies don’t get any respect around the league, but I don’t think they will allow LA to use their pitcher in a trade.
Ha. I didn’t notice that the OP referred to Alex Freeland as Kyle. That’s not the worst of it. A few days ago, I read a fan proposal about the Rockies trading Ezequiel Tovar to the Dodgers. As we all know, every team’s goal is to help make the Dodgers stronger.
Alex Freeland and Nick Frasso!!! Not Kyle Fraser
Strike two.
Fortuntely, I only gave a foul tip
Well played.
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
Bohm plus for Crochet. Phils then sign Bregman.
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.
Sure they can trade Mayer. Past those guys i don’t see a deal happening.
how much do you give in an extension to crochet?
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?
Ma4170;
Have you ever seen him pitch? He is dominant.
Throw the stats out. This is not a guy that finesses his way through a game. He overpowers hitters to a point where he’ll literally break them. They walk away after K’ing just happy to get back to the bench.
How long he can keep this up for …..who knows?
Literally?
@samuel… yes, thats what I’m saying, he’s absolutely dominant
Idk how long he can do it without major injury
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
=======================
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.
Sounds like he is worried about blowing out his arm. Not a good look.
I have no objection to players protecting themselves. The team isn’t going to protect a player on a short-term contract. If this was the local softball team, I wouldn’t be overly concerned about my arm. If I’m a guy with maybe a couple of million in career earnings, with the chance of $100M+ of future earnings, then I have to protect myself.
And an acquiring team should be open to buying out that risk at the right price. The risk should be shared by both parties.
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.
Plenty of good players not getting a chance due to most teams not doing a good job at developing players and evaluating them
The Sox need that ability badly
How does that help Chicago?
Alex Anthopolous will somehow acquire him for Ramon Laureano and Chadwick Tromp
On a serious note I wonder if Baldwin and like Waldrep plus another smaller piece would be solid enough for them to get in a return?
As a Cubs fan I believe the Cubs possess the young positional talent, to trade. Crochet’s future health and contract demands would make me very hesitant.
Hey Perry offer up Rengifo, Ward and either Moniak or Adell for him. If need be throw in someone you don’t ever plan on giving a shot from AAA or AA. Heck the Sox might even take it. Of course all would end up turning into MVP candidates once they leave the Halos.
Sox want players with 5-6 years of control back.
They aren’t going to rebuild and contend in the next 2 years.
I’d love to see him traded to the Dodgers for Gavin Lux, James Outman ,Tony Gosolin and 1 or 2 lower level minor league players!!
Honestly, I don’t think Crochet gets traded in the offseason. Teams are going to be hesitant to trade their prospects for him. Crochet will need to pitch until the trade deadline to prove he’s going to hold up as a starter.
He proved it last year. Crochet is ready to throw between 150 and 180 innings in 2025. They gotta trade him now.
I’d like to believe that, I really do. I really do appreciate the optimistic view.
Baltimore seems too obvious. Mayo and Basallo. Done. Crochet’s contract is almost as good as his talent.
Just say no to that crazy offer.
I wouldn’t trade either of those guys. We need future 1B and C. Mounty is not cutting it for WS ambitions. I predict he’ll be traded to HOU or SEA. O’s literally have no other MLB catcher other than Adley who has 3 years left. I’d give up Beavers or Honeycutt as a headline which I don’t think gets it done because O’s don’t even have a top tier farm system anymore.
Fans really need to put together a package they think they’d be willing to give….and then add another really good player. Fans always overrate their own prospects and try to include failed prospects in proposed deals.
Crochet is in many ways a unicorn….super cheap, huge upside, no health concerns. He’s going to net a LOT….and fans of the team that get him are going to squeal from the perceived pain of what they give up.
Nothing new here. Just fans offering junk for a player they want their team to acquire.
Ok, let’s take a shot at this. Both teams would say no, but its MY trade.
Jake Cronenworth, Eguy Rosario (or Tirso Ornelas), Jhonny Brito, Brandon Lockridge, Victor Lizzaraga (or Henry Baez) and $20 million
for Crochet and Robert.
The White Sox get two starting infielders that play good defense with 5 or more years of control, a 4th OF that plays exceptional defense in CF, a pitcher that can step in to start in place of Crochet, and a very good pitching prospect. Padres are essentially paying half of Cronenworth’s contract. $21 million plus $17 million for Robert ($15 million salary plus $2 million buyout)
Over the past 4 seasons Cronenworth has produced roughly the same average WAR per season as Robert with their peaks being 4.8 WAR and 5.0 WAR over that time period. Cronenworth is under contract for 6 more seasons while Robert is a FA after 2025 unless the team picks up a $20 million option.
Robert slots into left field/DH for the Padres and hopefully that keeps him healthy. Arraez moves to 1B/2B.
Web, articles about it like the one on ESPN+ right now are saying that Getz is asking more for Robert than he is for Crochet and that he wants at least one MLB ready top position player prospect for Crochet. I don’t think your trade gets it done.
I also don’t like that both Crochet and Robert are both extremely injury prone. I think there are better moves Preller can make.
No chance that the WS want Cro. You need to break it down separately.
Crochet starts with a top-25 prospects.
Roberts starts with a top-50 or two top-100 prospects.
Joe, pretty much everyone is saying that Getz wants more for Roberts than Crochet. Crochet does not have near enough track record to get a guy in the top 25.
Bo Bichette for Crochett and a top 10 prospect. Both teams get something they need.
Think Bo is a FA here soon. That would be very irrational for the white sox to trade for him at all. They might as well take a flier at any other prospect at this point unless the jays are willing to give Bo away for free and eat the salary also. But the white Sox’s are soooo bad, they don’t “need” a ss as ironic as that sounds. They need as many young, talented protectable team controlled players as they can possibly get and hope a handful of them turn into something. They don’t need to waste any time with a short term Bo B.
Just to show even more proof CWS are destitute now they want to trade Crotchet after hanging on to him during the deadline
I wouldn’t be quick to trade for him. Injury history and don’t forget, he is a White Sox pitcher not coached by Coop.
Crotchet is a big risk.
He is very lite on innings pitched.
Last year was the 1st year he was stretched out for over 100 innings.
He has an injury history.
He only has 2 years of club control left.
He is young, but a risky move to send a lot of players and top prospects for Crotchet.
(Unless the WS are throwing in a few more useful players, then I would pass on Crotchet!
Crochet is a good pitcher, well thrower anyway right now. He was also on a innings count by the org which accounts for the few IP. (I mean who lets a pitcher only throw 4 IP, other than to try to manipulate the Arb. hearings)
He will likely go somewhere worth a damn and be just fine. Besides how many of these top contract pitchers wind up getting injured throughout the year, but teams keep shelling out bucks for them? Cause when they are pitching they dominate. Im not saying Crochet is there yet, but when he is on, he is definitely a beast, and that is with an inept goof like Katz ‘coaching’ him.
Besides GM Getz will likely get nothing anyway.. I mean he think he will but it will likely just be another bust in the org as the Sox are built on fealty, not accountability or instructional excellence, only keeping ‘the Chairman’ happy.
The Orioles blew it by not trying to land Tarik Skubal.@ the Trade Deadline last Summer.
(as I stated at the time)
They became another “easy out” of the playoffs, again.
And, then they also lose Burnes?!
Burnes and Skubal could have moved the Orioles past the Yankees and right into the World Series,
Flags fly forever!
Its sad that the White Sox are such a pathetic org that they have to be giving away their good pitchers.
Crochet will likely be great for someone who likely will not have to give up a lot to Getz to get him.