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.
32 starts from him equaled 146 innings. He’s a glorified relief pitcher
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.
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.