Along with Corbin Burnes, Max Fried and Blake Snell reaching free agency, the list of starting pitchers available this offseason included Garrett Crochet.
Although the left-hander is under team control through the 2026 season, all indications were the Chicago White Sox would finally part with their ace. Crochet received substantial interest at the trade deadline, but a high asking price and complications due to an innings limit and reported desire for contract extension in order to pitch in the postseason eliminated any chance for a deal.
After Snell signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Max Fried joined the New York Yankees, Burnes and Crochet were left as the best starters available.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the White Sox completed a Crochet trade with the Boston Red Sox in which they received four prospects:
Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez are the full return to the White Sox for Crochet, per source. @Ken_Rosenthal was on it.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 11, 2024
The Crochet trade comes eight years after the blockbuster in which the White Sox sent Chris Sale to the Red Sox. Sale went on to help Boston win the 2018 World Series against the Dodgers, but has since joined the Atlanta Braves. Sale had a resurgent 2024 season that culminated with winning the National League Cy Young Award.
Now the Red Sox hope to find similar success behind Crochet, who helps ease the sting of what’s been a disappointing offseason thus far for the team. Boston fell short in their bid to sign Juan Soto, and reportedly were involved for Fried as well before he signed with the rival Yankees.
The Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies were not only among the teams with reported interest in a Crochet trade this offseason, but also had been perceived as the favorites to acquire the 25-year-old.
Did Dodgers need Garrett Crochet trade?
The Dodgers’ search for starting pitching led them to signing Snell to a five-year contract that is taking shape to be a bargain. Even after adding the two-time Cy Young Award winner, L.A. was still said to be interested in a trade for Crochet.
Acquiring the southpaw would have been another boon for the Dodgers’ rotation, but that still can be added to in the form of Roki Sasaki for a team-friendly financial commitment that presumably was more attractive to the front office than parting with the necessary prospect capital for a Crochet trade.
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