I suppose it has become my duty to be the official bookkeeper on the Garrett Crochet trade between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. Mere weeks ago, we discussed how Braden Montgomery was in the midst of a fortune-shifting breakout in Double-A.
Now, it is my responsibility to inform you that the White Sox have promoted him to the highest level of the minor leagues after he posted a ridiculous 162 wRC+ for the Birmingham Barons.
Montgomery is slated to make his Triple-A debut this week, at which point he'll be on the doorstep of the majors. Considering where Garrett Crochet and the Red Sox are at this year, it's safe to say that the scales of that fabled deal are starting to look like they could balance out.
White Sox starting to catch up rapidly to Red Sox in Garrett Crochet trade
Braden Montgomery is headed to Triple-A!
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 3, 2026
The White Sox are moving MLB's No. 31 prospect one call from the bigs after he posted a 1.035 OPS to start the year at Double-A: https://t.co/fmF7kQkJH6 pic.twitter.com/ITYAaIdMQJ
There's no regretting the Crochet trade from the Red Sox's point of view. Yes, he's dealing with a terrifying left shoulder injury and sitting on a disastrous 6.30 ERA through six starts in 2026, but he's also a 26-year-old southpaw who finished second in Cy Young voting last year. Unless you want to make an argument for Roman Anthony, he's the face of the franchise until further notice.
That being said, the White Sox have to be pleased with how things are going on their end. Kyle Teel hasn't played this year due to a hamstring injury, but he was worth 1.9 fWAR in a breakout rookie campaign in 2025. Likewise, Chase Meidroth remains the floor-raising second baseman his prospect profile promised, getting on base once in every three plate appearances thus far in his MLB career.
Even Wikelman González looks like a keeper, with a 34.5% strikeout rate in Triple-A this year after impressing in his cup of coffee in Chicago last season (2.66 ERA).
Somehow, despite all of that talent, Montgomery may prove to be the player the Red Sox regret giving up most. He possesses the kind of game-changing power that Boston has been missing from its lineup ever since trading Rafael Devers, with 14 extra-base hits to his name in just 27 games prior to his promotion. Not to compare apples to oranges with Double-A and MLB stats, but that total would lead the Red Sox this year.
Then again, another outfielder is perhaps the last thing the Red Sox need right now. They're already struggling to find enough playing time for their quintet of Anthony, Jarren Duran, Masataka Yoshida, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela as it is. Montgomery would allow tighten up that logjam.
Is that a whole heaping serving of cope during what's becoming a lost season? Probably, but only one of these teams has Crochet. That thought should be enough to get us through this devestating campaign.
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