With the Detroit Tigers unlikely to trade Tarik Skubal, Chicago White Sox’ southpaw Garrett Crochet is the most likely ace to be traded before the July 30 MLB trade deadline.
The White Sox are open to trading Crochet because their contract negotiations failed to gain much traction, but it’s still no guarantee he’s moved as he is under team control through the 2026 season.
Crochet also made a list of demands for whichever team acquires him, including sticking in the rotation for the rest of the season and not pitching in the postseason without a contract extension.
Despite this, multiple teams are still pursuing Crochet and making offers for the 25-year-old, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are one of them, according to Bruce Levine of AM670 The Score:
The Dodgers, Orioles, Red Sox, Braves and Phillies have all continued to show interest in Crochet, sources said Monday evening.
Widespread interest has created a belief within the White Sox organization they will complete a Crochet trade before the deadline, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic:
The demand for starting pitching is so intense that the Chicago White Sox might get their price for Crochet even with all the concerns about his availability for the postseason
Despite Crochet’s demands and concerns related to his health and innings pitched total, the Dodgers have been unfazed and continue to pursue him as a top of their wishlist option.
The White Sox are seemingly searching for prospects with “enormous upside” in a deal for Crochet, which makes sense given his team control, age and ability.
In his first full season as a starting pitcher and first full year since returning from Tommy John surgery, Crochet has been excellent, pitching to a 3.23 ERA and 2.41 FIP across 114.1 innings with a 1.01 WHIP, 34.6% strikeout rate and 5.6% walk rate.
He would slot into the top of a rotation for any team in baseball, but he has now more than doubled his previous career-high of 54.1 innings pitched.
But regardless, he is likely the best impact player available ahead of the July 30, 3 p.m. PT trade deadline.
Dodgers and White Sox made non-Crochet trade
The Dodgers and White Sox already completed a deal as part of a three-team deal with the St. Louis Cardinals that sent Tommy Edman and Michel Kopech to L.A. for Miguel Vargas and a pair of prospects.
Kopech was previously reported to be part of the Dodgers and White Sox dicussions on a blockbuster deal that could have included Crochet and Luis Robert Jr., but the price for all three would have been signficiant.
Even after the clubs worked out a deal already, it seems one more could be in the works.
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