Garrett Crochet debuted for the Boston Red Sox against the Texas Rangers on Opening Day. He did so without a contract extension.
The Red Sox traded four top prospects for Crochet in December, and extending him immediately became a priority. His staggering 209 strikeouts in 146 innings in his first season as a starting pitcher in 2024 caught plenty of eyes in front offices around the league, but the Red Sox secured the lefty fireballer with their deep pool of young talent.
Crochet set a deadline of Opening Day, March 27, for all extension discussions to be completed or tabled until fall. The 25-year-old does not wish to negotiate during the season, and reports from the front office suggest the Red Sox will honor his wishes.
Not extending Crochet early could end up being a huge mistake for Boston. His debut performance for the Red Sox was consistent with his work in Chicago — he allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts over five innings against the Rangers. His command was shaky to start — it's just Opening Day, after all — but he still managed 15 whiffs.
Garrett Crochet starts his @RedSox career with an #OpeningDay K 💪 pic.twitter.com/j8T5r6elH0
— MLB (@MLB) March 27, 2025
If Crochet improves or continues on his Opening Day trajectory, the Red Sox will be asked to pay handsomely for his services long-term. There have been no reports of Crochet's asking price or of Boston's best offer, but it's probably safe to assume the two sides were far apart since negotiations have been tabled.
The Red Sox should've made their best effort to extend Crochet before he picked up a ball for them this winter. His value will only increase as he spends more time with the team and posts more seasons like 2024. Crochet may not have been interested in signing on so early, though, since it's in his best interest to pitch as well as possible before he signs with the Sox or elsewhere long-term.
If Crochet has another great season in 2025, not only will his price increase — the Red Sox have a known reluctance to sign pitchers to expensive contracts — but he'll be just one year removed from the free agent market. A 28-year-old Crochet could easily get a 10-year deal in one of the biggest markets like the Dodgers or Mets, the likes of which the Red Sox would never even consider.
Boston obviously wants Crochet to pitch his best, but if he posts another season as good or better than 2024, its chances of extending him decrease substantially. There may still be a glimmer of hope, though, if the Red Sox really were willing to sign Juan Soto for $700 million. Hopefully, they keep the same energy with Crochet when the time comes.