So he was afraid of getting injured. Fear activates the amygdala portion of the brain, which causes inflammation and muscle stiffness and makes injury far likelier. It’s just science.
Again, it doesn’t mean he CANT have success, but his decision was made in fear, and like it or not, it does tell us something about his mental makeup. Between that and his limited sample size as a starter, I think there are a good amount of red flags here and bearing that in mind Boston surrendered way too much in talent. If I’m the GM, especially of a proud franchise like Boston with a recent streak of underachievement, I look for the guy who craves the big moment and feels confident in his ability to rise up to meet it. JMHO
We spent almost $9 million on a backup catcher and over $16 million on a part-time OF just the other day, so there is absolutely no good reason to think Elias and Rubenstein won't address the need for another good SP for the rotation in some way before the offseason is over.
Braden Montgomery was called the steal of the draft when he fell to Boston. Many thought he would easily go top ten. And now they dump him before he even gets a chance. Teel was anointed the catcher of the future for the Red Sox with great offense and solid catching skills. I know nothing about the other two prospects the White Sox received, but the panel on the MLB Network were gushing about the huge package Boston gave up. For one player. After the White Sox turned down a huge number of trade proposals, they finally got one from a team desperate to make a big splash after striking out on all their free agent pursuits. Wow, for a guy with injuriy concerns, and one of the worst pitchers in the league for hard contact, with a violent, sky high leg kick that is really weird looking, Boston will probably let this guy walk in a couple of years.
Indirectly it is about money for the Orioles. The Orioles bullpen was fried last year like it gets most years because they won't spend to get the quality pitching that gets you through 5-6 IP more often than not. So they play the bullpen game. Relievers are cheaper than starters.
So far they've been firmly on the sidelines for any starters this winter while they've been coming off the board so 2025 looks to be more of the same.
Aside from being poorly run and perhaps not trying, can anyone explain why Colorado doesn't ALWAYS select a pitcher in the Rule V Draft?
Ten teams drafting after them felt there were pitchers worthy taking a look at, and given their perennial non-contention status, the Rockies are ideally suited to carry a player on their roster the entire year unlike a contender.
I was a little surprised at the White Sox getting another catching prospect.... but if they all pan out, then the Sox can eventually trade from that position of depth.
again saying "use bassit as a trade asset to land a bat"... your words not mine, now is supposed to imply (based on your continuing" that he is a trade asset in that they will get salary relief and then use the money in FA????
This is one of those deals that I believe works well for both teams—assuming Crochet continues to pitch at last year's level—and if he does, the Red Sox are able to extend him..
Kenlyo, you gotta realize that the Bellinger contract you included in your trade construct is a poison pill. So asking the Astros to send a $35+ million AAV guy who is making less than half that AND taking on Bellinger's underwater contract for one good prospect is laughable.
I consider your inclusion of Pressly as a neutral contract for a top RP, so that doesn't factor.
Even if Tucker refuses an extension, you can QO him and grab a couple of compensation picks after he carries you to a Division title.
I am reading now that the Astros want Suzuki (not Bellinger), along with Cam Smith and one or two other top prospects. That sounds about right.
LOL, FPG. That was my top 3 for the rotation I posted last off season. I still keep it in my phone in notes to show people the date. That would have put us in the post season for sure.
The blister hadn't kept him out for 5 years. That's more manageable than the forearm issue that kept him out twice in the last 2 years, and a much larger red flag, imho.
I’d say this is proof that AJ is not trading Salas. Seems like the type of situation where Sox were targeting top C prospects and I’m sure AJ and Sox were at least talking about it - maybe going back to trade deadline.
It is a slight edge to the White Sox but an Ace caliber pitcher was always going to be pricey. Boston needed an Ace more than they need Teel so I'm happy.
Wrong about Gonzalez, no MLB service time, my memory fails me again, blast it! But looks to be an alright prospect, he and Shane Smith can slot into our Bullpen in '25.
Love the trade for the ChiSox. Good luck to Crochet in Boston.
Hell yeah, the white Sox crushed it. Good on them especially for not accepting Casas as a piece. The cat is out of the bag on his mediocrity now. Even the Mariners don’t want him!
Boy the Red Sox must Love the White Sox- anytime they have a good player- the Ted Sox get him for a song and dance! So, the WS got a bunch of young Minor Leaguers whom if they get good the WS will trade them for even younger players. We have an owner and GM who dont deserve to own/run a MLB franchise.
I agree he has that kind of ability. Overthrowing is a problem for many modern pitchers. They don't want to give up the long ball. Trust your stuff and your defense instead of trying to strike everybody out. If you give up a home run, brush it off and focus on the next batter.
Wow that is a huge haul of prospects. Never were going to get teams #1 or 2, he only has really one year of history as a starter. White Sox should be able to take a step forward in another season. Might as well trade Roberts now also and see if they can get out of the rebuild in 2026 with these young players. Look at Detroit, traded the veterans and young players stepped up and made the playoffs. I know there is a lot of negativity around previous trades (as there should) but at least to this uneducated eye of Red Sox Prospects looks good.
I think Webb getting Non-Tendered by the Orioles has more to do with his options remaining. The Orioles have a bullpen that is all out of options (Kegan Akin may have 1 option left??).
Orioles probably want at least 2 guys in the pen that they can 'shuttle' during the dog-days/series match-ups. In 2023 there was a tram going to Norfolk almost nightly...but 2024 was tough w/o optionability.
Agreed FPG. Sale had a much more extensive track record than Crochet who pitched like an ace for half a season.
The Red Sox just traded their top draft pick from the last two years who happen to be the 25th and 60th best prospects in baseball for a guy that has shown he can handle a starters load for only a half a season. You can’t even compare him remotely to Chris Sale.
I was surprised that the Cubs picked anybody. But then I looked at the guy. He's a LH bat that can play 3B, SS and OF. Looks like the Cubs have at least brought in somebody who can audition for Mastrobuoni's spot. They really don't have anyone like that in the high minor leagues right now. Hope to get a good look at him in ST. Got some power too.
So is "echo chamber" the newest conservative buzzword of the moment like "snowflake" and "woke" now? I dropped out of the whole politics thing altogether, so I am completely blissfully ignorant. You all enjoy your fights, I'll enjoy my mojito.
Joe-Maybe Campusano comes over in a Cease trade? It’d leave the Padres with no proven catchers, but I’m sure Preller can figure that out through other deals.
Would've like STL to pick up Workman. They need right-handed power, especially if they flip Arenado. Could've stuck him in RF because there's no way I'd start Walker at the big league level next year...he looks totally lost.
To further clarify, this is not to say that his apparent fearfulness and hesitancy makes it impossible for him to have success in a big moment, just that Boston might not be the best market for someone with that mental makeup. He’d have been better off in Baltimore or SD, somewhere where fans are more patient and forgiving.
Workman went to the Cubs. I will be surprised if he can stick on any ML roster, let alone the Cubby's. Catcher, Hicks, went to the Marlins very early. Tigers just had him for 10 minutes after acquiring him from Rangers in the Carson Kelly trade....who is a FA.
I don't think the Tigers will feel the losses.
I totally agree. I may have regretted missing out seeing a healthy Sale for the length of the deal, but I certainly didn't regret the trade. Not one day.
Agree. An overpay for a guy who’s never thrown a lot of Innings and one really good year. I understand they needed a frontline SP but man that’s a lot.
Father time wins all battles but there's no expiration date in when it's going to go bad or HOW bad. If he ends up being a low 4 ERA guy the lady 3 years of the deal but was an ace (top 30 SP) over the last 5 then so be it.
The next Social Media Site that I sign up for will be the 2nd that I sign up for. I signed up for Twitter like 6 years ago and deleted it after a week. Never make that mistake again.
When GRod pitches, he's filthy ... and in my IMO at a TOR level. But he has a tendency to throw (and to the point of overthrowing). When he gets carried away like this the natural movement of his pitches which he is gifted with can flatten out. Oof.
I think maybe the culprit here is that he can put unnecessary pressure on himself which leads to this overthrowing thing which in addition to messing with ball movement is what's possibly causing the recurring lat injury issue. Hoping he grows out of all this. He's young. I say he will. Fingers crossed.
I wonder how they will manage Crochet's workload to keep him healthy and effective for the next two years, and ideally into the future if they decide to/can extend him? Might make the most sense to invest more heavily in the bullpen. In fact, with the volatility of the rest of the staff, that's almost certainly the best route. A 6 man rotation might also make sense if they sign a middle/back end rotation guy who can offer some sense of innings-stability. Kyle Gibson or Lorenzen make some sense in that regard.
The combined salaries of those players would barely pay for a season's worth of snacks eaten by Gary, Keith, and Ron in the broadcast booth (though Keith seems to have cut back on the cotton candy).
Giving away Crochet for “nothing” isn’t accurate when the White Sox are receiving Kyle Teel, one of the top catching prospects in baseball, along with three other high-upside players. It’s not about hoarding prospects—it’s about not mortgaging the future for a player who, despite his talent, comes with risk. If Crochet doesn’t meet the lofty expectations, the Red Sox lose out on years of team control and potential impact from the prospects they’re trading away. Smart teams balance the win-now mentality with long-term sustainability, and this deal feels heavily tilted in the short-term gamble direction.
This guy is a problem for the AL West, that's a big add for the Rangers. Haven't looked into the prospects they gave up, they must be good because Burger is the man. Was upset when the White Sox traded him.
heels, If the Phils fail to win the world series in 2025 but then make offers to extend Schwarber, Realmuto, and/or Suarez, which of these players do you think will either 1) try to frisk the Phils for more money or 2) jump ship and go to a higher bidder? Do you think any of these guys will remain loyal to a team that can't get the job done, especially if they're being offered more money to play elsewhere? In my humble opinion, Schwarber is not A problem for the Phils. He is THE problem. He's paid $20 million a year to bat 4 or 5 times a game - and always as the leadoff hitter who is the only player that gets to tee off on the first center- cut fast ball each and every game. Besides batting, he can't play any defensive position reliably, he slows the Phils potential running game to a halt when he's on base, and he fails more in clutch situations than he succeeds. But most importantly, his monopolizing the DH spot deprives the Phils of making better use of its hitting strengths. Do you think the Phils are getting the most out of their DH position with Schwarber who always has a mediocre batting average and league-leading number of strike outs, or would they do better with a DH-by-committee (Harper, Turner, Realmuto, Castellanos, Bohm, Sosa, etc. - taking turns DHing and getting a day's rest from fielding duties once a week)? Many players play tired and don't like missing even single games because of the potential of their timing being thrown off. Being able to hit every day but still have a day off from playing the field once a week would obviate such a scenario. So, ask yourself if the Phils would be better off with Kyle Tucker hitting every day and playing an outfield position or Kyle Schwarber continuing as the Phils' one and only DH?
It doesn't mean that though, it means the exact opposite, that trading 6 years each of 2 potential stars like Mayo and Kjerstad (plus probably at least 1 other decent piece) for 2 years of a pitcher with some pretty major question marks is terrible for your organization's long-term health. It's something that major market teams like Boston can do because they can just buy big time free agents every offseason to fill any holes their now-emptier farm can't fill, while teams like the Orioles can't really do that.
I would have actually been pretty livid if Elias had traded Mayo and Kjerstad for Crochet.
That's my belief too. They're probably just gonna audition him in Spring Training and go from there. Kinda like Kyle Holder whom they selected in '20 or'21.
Teel has looked short of expectations?? He has 138 minor league games with a .838 OPS as a catcher? Unless he had to be moved off of the position, that's elite.
My first thought was huge white sox advantage A for them D for Boston. After thinking on it a minute or two I think it's a win win. Going to write up my grade below but spoiler alert I think it's going to be a B C.
So you don't think giving up a #2 catcher is worth getting a potential TOR starter? I don't think you can go further down the totem pole and still find anything that works..
When the options are going to be .230 hitters with not much power to offer, it is simply about the glove. So yeah, (insert name) if they have a good glove, I do not give a crap.
You are saying they will all be gone from free agency come end of spring training? Possible, although some teams will be designating some of those same types of glove only catchers at the end of spring training. There are always a couple. I just know we have a good glove and throw catcher at the moment on the cusp in AAA that we are just waiting to see if he hits MLB pitching, because he hits everywhere else.
I just read the Crochet trade rumor. This explains it. I wouldn't part with Teel, but this at least explains why they would be willing to bring in a guy like McCann. They know they are losing the better option to upgrade the pitching.
Well Crochett hadn't gotten paid yet...he was looking out for himself.
What are ya a pluckin owl??
So he was afraid of getting injured. Fear activates the amygdala portion of the brain, which causes inflammation and muscle stiffness and makes injury far likelier. It’s just science.
Again, it doesn’t mean he CANT have success, but his decision was made in fear, and like it or not, it does tell us something about his mental makeup. Between that and his limited sample size as a starter, I think there are a good amount of red flags here and bearing that in mind Boston surrendered way too much in talent. If I’m the GM, especially of a proud franchise like Boston with a recent streak of underachievement, I look for the guy who craves the big moment and feels confident in his ability to rise up to meet it. JMHO
We spent almost $9 million on a backup catcher and over $16 million on a part-time OF just the other day, so there is absolutely no good reason to think Elias and Rubenstein won't address the need for another good SP for the rotation in some way before the offseason is over.
Braden Montgomery was called the steal of the draft when he fell to Boston. Many thought he would easily go top ten. And now they dump him before he even gets a chance. Teel was anointed the catcher of the future for the Red Sox with great offense and solid catching skills. I know nothing about the other two prospects the White Sox received, but the panel on the MLB Network were gushing about the huge package Boston gave up. For one player. After the White Sox turned down a huge number of trade proposals, they finally got one from a team desperate to make a big splash after striking out on all their free agent pursuits. Wow, for a guy with injuriy concerns, and one of the worst pitchers in the league for hard contact, with a violent, sky high leg kick that is really weird looking, Boston will probably let this guy walk in a couple of years.
Indirectly it is about money for the Orioles. The Orioles bullpen was fried last year like it gets most years because they won't spend to get the quality pitching that gets you through 5-6 IP more often than not. So they play the bullpen game. Relievers are cheaper than starters.
So far they've been firmly on the sidelines for any starters this winter while they've been coming off the board so 2025 looks to be more of the same.
This breaks during my English essay final these stories always break at the worst time for me
Aside from being poorly run and perhaps not trying, can anyone explain why Colorado doesn't ALWAYS select a pitcher in the Rule V Draft?
Ten teams drafting after them felt there were pitchers worthy taking a look at, and given their perennial non-contention status, the Rockies are ideally suited to carry a player on their roster the entire year unlike a contender.
Bart had a good 2024. They probably should have kept him. But he had no place to play. Because they had Bailey......
We will know the reality of the trade in a few years
I was a little surprised at the White Sox getting another catching prospect.... but if they all pan out, then the Sox can eventually trade from that position of depth.
again saying "use bassit as a trade asset to land a bat"... your words not mine, now is supposed to imply (based on your continuing" that he is a trade asset in that they will get salary relief and then use the money in FA????
reaching pal. take your L and move on.
@Bobby
Unless the offer was a farce, they just put that $700 mil allegedly offered to Soto, back in their pocket.
Looks like a nice haul for the Wsox.
Phillies would be better with Schwarber at DH and Tucker in RF.
Castellanos can be Marsh's RH platoon in LF and the Phillies need to find a CF rental unless they think Crawford is ready.
This is one of those deals that I believe works well for both teams—assuming Crochet continues to pitch at last year's level—and if he does, the Red Sox are able to extend him..
Kenlyo, you gotta realize that the Bellinger contract you included in your trade construct is a poison pill. So asking the Astros to send a $35+ million AAV guy who is making less than half that AND taking on Bellinger's underwater contract for one good prospect is laughable.
I consider your inclusion of Pressly as a neutral contract for a top RP, so that doesn't factor.
Even if Tucker refuses an extension, you can QO him and grab a couple of compensation picks after he carries you to a Division title.
I am reading now that the Astros want Suzuki (not Bellinger), along with Cam Smith and one or two other top prospects. That sounds about right.
LOL, FPG. That was my top 3 for the rotation I posted last off season. I still keep it in my phone in notes to show people the date. That would have put us in the post season for sure.
Finally. With Soto we would score 10 runs a game but give up 12
The blister hadn't kept him out for 5 years. That's more manageable than the forearm issue that kept him out twice in the last 2 years, and a much larger red flag, imho.
Yes, one golden at-bat (I realize Manfred backed off on this brainstorm).
I’d say this is proof that AJ is not trading Salas. Seems like the type of situation where Sox were targeting top C prospects and I’m sure AJ and Sox were at least talking about it - maybe going back to trade deadline.
Not if he's extended this offseason.
Uh oh spaghetti
GM'ing in baseball is a continual exercise in kicking the can down the road.
I'm still trying to figure out who Kevin Crochet is? Does he have a brother?
Some savvy moves are being made between the megadeals. This one has a chance to pay off in spades.
This. MLBTR writers keep assuming it's the money, because they just assume the Orioles are cheap, which is a lazy surface-level take.
It's all about options and having a flexible bullpen.
It is a slight edge to the White Sox but an Ace caliber pitcher was always going to be pricey. Boston needed an Ace more than they need Teel so I'm happy.
anyone with any amount of baseball IQ says
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Wrong about Gonzalez, no MLB service time, my memory fails me again, blast it! But looks to be an alright prospect, he and Shane Smith can slot into our Bullpen in '25.
Love the trade for the ChiSox. Good luck to Crochet in Boston.
Doesn't seem light, but at the same time it does seem like the Mets---rumored to have been very interested---could have beaten it.
The problem may have been that the Mets best prospects are in the upper minors.
Hell yeah, the white Sox crushed it. Good on them especially for not accepting Casas as a piece. The cat is out of the bag on his mediocrity now. Even the Mariners don’t want him!
Boy the Red Sox must Love the White Sox- anytime they have a good player- the Ted Sox get him for a song and dance! So, the WS got a bunch of young Minor Leaguers whom if they get good the WS will trade them for even younger players. We have an owner and GM who dont deserve to own/run a MLB franchise.
So long Gage. We hardly knew ye -- beyond your strikeouts and status as "Guy < Tork."
Beats a massive Overbay
It should cover at least one at bat with no one on in the 9th down by 2.
Exactly. The back and forth name calling is pure drudgery.
Theyve all got skills apparently
I agree he has that kind of ability. Overthrowing is a problem for many modern pitchers. They don't want to give up the long ball. Trust your stuff and your defense instead of trying to strike everybody out. If you give up a home run, brush it off and focus on the next batter.
Good deal, congratulations to both Sox!
As a Braves fan, Fried's deal is a huge overpay. He's missed a good bit of time last few years and never really got the blister issue taken care of.
If I'm Boston, prob smart to not pay that contract for 8 years.
Wow that is a huge haul of prospects. Never were going to get teams #1 or 2, he only has really one year of history as a starter. White Sox should be able to take a step forward in another season. Might as well trade Roberts now also and see if they can get out of the rebuild in 2026 with these young players. Look at Detroit, traded the veterans and young players stepped up and made the playoffs. I know there is a lot of negativity around previous trades (as there should) but at least to this uneducated eye of Red Sox Prospects looks good.
I think Webb getting Non-Tendered by the Orioles has more to do with his options remaining. The Orioles have a bullpen that is all out of options (Kegan Akin may have 1 option left??).
Orioles probably want at least 2 guys in the pen that they can 'shuttle' during the dog-days/series match-ups. In 2023 there was a tram going to Norfolk almost nightly...but 2024 was tough w/o optionability.
@ckc
Google is your friend, also the article talking about him should help as well.
Agreed FPG. Sale had a much more extensive track record than Crochet who pitched like an ace for half a season.
The Red Sox just traded their top draft pick from the last two years who happen to be the 25th and 60th best prospects in baseball for a guy that has shown he can handle a starters load for only a half a season. You can’t even compare him remotely to Chris Sale.
*Workman hits lefthanded. My mistake. I still would've added him. Why not?
I was surprised that the Cubs picked anybody. But then I looked at the guy. He's a LH bat that can play 3B, SS and OF. Looks like the Cubs have at least brought in somebody who can audition for Mastrobuoni's spot. They really don't have anyone like that in the high minor leagues right now. Hope to get a good look at him in ST. Got some power too.
So is "echo chamber" the newest conservative buzzword of the moment like "snowflake" and "woke" now? I dropped out of the whole politics thing altogether, so I am completely blissfully ignorant. You all enjoy your fights, I'll enjoy my mojito.
Emergency emergency
maybe Ben made the trade while sitting on the toilet
No he meant 8 years/1.5 million.
Joe-Maybe Campusano comes over in a Cease trade? It’d leave the Padres with no proven catchers, but I’m sure Preller can figure that out through other deals.
Who is Robinson?
Would've like STL to pick up Workman. They need right-handed power, especially if they flip Arenado. Could've stuck him in RF because there's no way I'd start Walker at the big league level next year...he looks totally lost.
I'll be darned. Sox stick to their knitting. SP staff on the mend.
To further clarify, this is not to say that his apparent fearfulness and hesitancy makes it impossible for him to have success in a big moment, just that Boston might not be the best market for someone with that mental makeup. He’d have been better off in Baltimore or SD, somewhere where fans are more patient and forgiving.
John Henry ain't parting with cash. They'll have to stay within the budget allocated for 2025.. This does address the rotation to an extent.
Ooh that would be embarrassing if they realized they already had him: "uh, that's Garrett from accounting"
It really sucks.
At that price point he can hit batters.
Crochet had/has no right to refuse a trade
Workman went to the Cubs. I will be surprised if he can stick on any ML roster, let alone the Cubby's. Catcher, Hicks, went to the Marlins very early. Tigers just had him for 10 minutes after acquiring him from Rangers in the Carson Kelly trade....who is a FA.
I don't think the Tigers will feel the losses.
@bita. Quero's only knock is his defense at catcher maybe they move him to 1st or dh.
I totally agree. I may have regretted missing out seeing a healthy Sale for the length of the deal, but I certainly didn't regret the trade. Not one day.
Blue - You actually nailed it when you wrote "potential ace".
The Red Sox paid a heckuva price for "potential".
So it's basically hold their breath that an injury-plagued pitcher can stay healthy.
Hold their breath that he can pitch more than 146 innings in a season.
Hold their breath that his ERA will come down from 3.58
And if he accomplishes all that, hold their breath that they will be able to sign him to a reasonable extension.
That's a whole lot of wishes that need to come true for this to be a good deal for Boston.
Not sure how the Tigers managed to let Gage Workman go.
Agree. An overpay for a guy who’s never thrown a lot of Innings and one really good year. I understand they needed a frontline SP but man that’s a lot.
@Alex
Father time wins all battles but there's no expiration date in when it's going to go bad or HOW bad. If he ends up being a low 4 ERA guy the lady 3 years of the deal but was an ace (top 30 SP) over the last 5 then so be it.
Unless they somehow sign Burnes, they are almost certainly on the outside looking in already.
The next Social Media Site that I sign up for will be the 2nd that I sign up for. I signed up for Twitter like 6 years ago and deleted it after a week. Never make that mistake again.
Well they already expended some prospect capital. They should just spend to add a starter/high end relievers and a bat.
So what is your preferred solution? Do you think paying Fried 220 over 8 or 260 over 8 for Burnes is good business?
Sad to see you go, but good luck in Texas, Jake!
@ElKabong
When GRod pitches, he's filthy ... and in my IMO at a TOR level. But he has a tendency to throw (and to the point of overthrowing). When he gets carried away like this the natural movement of his pitches which he is gifted with can flatten out. Oof.
I think maybe the culprit here is that he can put unnecessary pressure on himself which leads to this overthrowing thing which in addition to messing with ball movement is what's possibly causing the recurring lat injury issue. Hoping he grows out of all this. He's young. I say he will. Fingers crossed.
McCann
I wonder how they will manage Crochet's workload to keep him healthy and effective for the next two years, and ideally into the future if they decide to/can extend him? Might make the most sense to invest more heavily in the bullpen. In fact, with the volatility of the rest of the staff, that's almost certainly the best route. A 6 man rotation might also make sense if they sign a middle/back end rotation guy who can offer some sense of innings-stability. Kyle Gibson or Lorenzen make some sense in that regard.
He's not. Crochet straight up worth more than Mayer, or Anthony, or Robinson!
Those prospects are sunk costs. Already paid.
BITAs a cut up comment. Oops, I did it again
The combined salaries of those players would barely pay for a season's worth of snacks eaten by Gary, Keith, and Ron in the broadcast booth (though Keith seems to have cut back on the cotton candy).
Twitter has been going downhill for a while and it’s not even just politics, but you do you
@ClevelandSteelEngines
Giving away Crochet for “nothing” isn’t accurate when the White Sox are receiving Kyle Teel, one of the top catching prospects in baseball, along with three other high-upside players. It’s not about hoarding prospects—it’s about not mortgaging the future for a player who, despite his talent, comes with risk. If Crochet doesn’t meet the lofty expectations, the Red Sox lose out on years of team control and potential impact from the prospects they’re trading away. Smart teams balance the win-now mentality with long-term sustainability, and this deal feels heavily tilted in the short-term gamble direction.
This guy is a problem for the AL West, that's a big add for the Rangers. Haven't looked into the prospects they gave up, they must be good because Burger is the man. Was upset when the White Sox traded him.
Best deal of the entire off-season in my opinion.
heels, If the Phils fail to win the world series in 2025 but then make offers to extend Schwarber, Realmuto, and/or Suarez, which of these players do you think will either 1) try to frisk the Phils for more money or 2) jump ship and go to a higher bidder? Do you think any of these guys will remain loyal to a team that can't get the job done, especially if they're being offered more money to play elsewhere? In my humble opinion, Schwarber is not A problem for the Phils. He is THE problem. He's paid $20 million a year to bat 4 or 5 times a game - and always as the leadoff hitter who is the only player that gets to tee off on the first center- cut fast ball each and every game. Besides batting, he can't play any defensive position reliably, he slows the Phils potential running game to a halt when he's on base, and he fails more in clutch situations than he succeeds. But most importantly, his monopolizing the DH spot deprives the Phils of making better use of its hitting strengths. Do you think the Phils are getting the most out of their DH position with Schwarber who always has a mediocre batting average and league-leading number of strike outs, or would they do better with a DH-by-committee (Harper, Turner, Realmuto, Castellanos, Bohm, Sosa, etc. - taking turns DHing and getting a day's rest from fielding duties once a week)? Many players play tired and don't like missing even single games because of the potential of their timing being thrown off. Being able to hit every day but still have a day off from playing the field once a week would obviate such a scenario. So, ask yourself if the Phils would be better off with Kyle Tucker hitting every day and playing an outfield position or Kyle Schwarber continuing as the Phils' one and only DH?
It doesn't mean that though, it means the exact opposite, that trading 6 years each of 2 potential stars like Mayo and Kjerstad (plus probably at least 1 other decent piece) for 2 years of a pitcher with some pretty major question marks is terrible for your organization's long-term health. It's something that major market teams like Boston can do because they can just buy big time free agents every offseason to fill any holes their now-emptier farm can't fill, while teams like the Orioles can't really do that.
I would have actually been pretty livid if Elias had traded Mayo and Kjerstad for Crochet.
That's my belief too. They're probably just gonna audition him in Spring Training and go from there. Kinda like Kyle Holder whom they selected in '20 or'21.
BS! Get real. Crochet is a young SP1 or SP2. One of the R Sox Top 3 prospects HAD to come back for him or you move on.
@Dustyslambchops23
Even elite relievers or unproven starters come with risk, and overpaying with future assets for a gamble is where the criticism lies.
Very weak analysis Dustyslambchops23
Who ya calling champ chump
Not even going to be close to that, he was only projected to make $1.7 million in arbitration
@bosox
Teel has looked short of expectations?? He has 138 minor league games with a .838 OPS as a catcher? Unless he had to be moved off of the position, that's elite.
My first thought was huge white sox advantage A for them D for Boston. After thinking on it a minute or two I think it's a win win. Going to write up my grade below but spoiler alert I think it's going to be a B C.
He meant the baseball Sox silly
So you don't think giving up a #2 catcher is worth getting a potential TOR starter? I don't think you can go further down the totem pole and still find anything that works..
Get lost. Lefy hitting C's always turn into platoon players and they already traded for a top young rated C in Edgar Quiero from LA Angels.
@aragon that's why I don't see them getting gleyber. Maybe Rodgers or ha seong kim on a one year deal so they can flip at the deadline.
Now they just need the Dback Montgomery and Montgomery Burnes. Excellent
When the options are going to be .230 hitters with not much power to offer, it is simply about the glove. So yeah, (insert name) if they have a good glove, I do not give a crap.
You are saying they will all be gone from free agency come end of spring training? Possible, although some teams will be designating some of those same types of glove only catchers at the end of spring training. There are always a couple. I just know we have a good glove and throw catcher at the moment on the cusp in AAA that we are just waiting to see if he hits MLB pitching, because he hits everywhere else.
I just read the Crochet trade rumor. This explains it. I wouldn't part with Teel, but this at least explains why they would be willing to bring in a guy like McCann. They know they are losing the better option to upgrade the pitching.
Kevin Crochet has two years of control left he’s not a free agent until 2027 but still it’s an overpay in my estimation brought on by cheap ownership.