After the Boston Red Sox lost out on Juan Soto and Max Fried to the Mets and Yankees, respectively, the Sox had to make a move. On Dec. 11, they delivered with a trade.
Boston is close to acquiring Chicago White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet, the biggest name on the pitching market this offseason, per Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe. The White Sox will receive top catching prospect Kyle Teel, 2024 first-round draft pick Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and righty Wikelman Gonzalez.
The Red Sox were recently characterized as smaller players in the Crochet market, behind the Reds and Yankees. After New York swept in and offered Fried a record-breaking contract for a lefty starter, Boston had to do something to become relevant in the American League East. It used its deep prospect pool to its advantage to secure a breakout star.
Crochet will round out Boston's rotation as the only lefty — at least for now. Earlier this afternoon, the Red Sox were still involved in other pitchers' markets, including Corbin Burnes. More additions could be coming to the Sox's staff if they play their cards right.
The Red Sox have acquired Garrett Crochet from White Sox, top prospect Kyle Teel in Chicago's return
Source: The Red Sox are on the verge of trading for Garrett Crochet. The deal includes top prospect Kyle Teel. None of the other big name prospects.
— Julian McWilliams (@byJulianMack) December 11, 2024
Crochet posted a 3.58 ERA over 146 innings across 32 stars in his first season in a rotation. He clocked 209 strikeouts in 2024, good for an outstanding 12.88 strikeouts per nine innings and a 98th percentile punchout rate, according to Baseball Savant. Crochet only issued 33 walks last season, which ranks him in the 87th percentile in walk rate.
The Red Sox gave up quite a haul in exchange for Crochet. Teel is slated to reach MLB readiness in 2025 and would've been a solid backup to Boston's Connor Wong. The Sox will now have to find another capable backup for next season. Montgomery ranked as a top prospect in the Red Sox's system as soon as he was drafted — he has a deadly arm and plenty of power at the plate. Meidroth didn't have a clear path to MLB with the Red Sox, but he's an on-base machine. Gonzalez was one of Boston's few pitching prospects, but Crochet is young, controllable and willing to sign an extension, which makes the steep trade worth the risk.
Arguably, the best part about the Crochet deal is that it didn't cost the Red Sox any money. Boston has been stuck in a small-market budget since 2019. It got the lefty strike-throwing savant it needed in Crochet, but the rotation could still use more reinforcements and the batting order could use a righty with some pop.
The Red Sox have still not spent a penny of the $700 million they set aside for their Juan Soto fund. They could sign Corbin Burnes or a righty with some thump, like Teoscar Hernández, and still remain under the luxury tax.