Garrett Crochet is swapping Sox.
The Boston Pink Sox acquired the All-Star left-hander in a blockbuster commerce with the Chicago White Sox, the group introduced Wednesday, a day after shedding out on Max Fried to the Yankees.
Crochet, 25, pitched to a 3.58 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 209 strikeouts in 146.0 innings in 2024 in his first MLB season as a starter. He stays underneath group management via 2026.
Wednesday’s commerce value Boston 4 minor leaguers in catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez.
MLB Pipeline ranked Teel as Boston’s No. 4 prospect, Montgomery as No. 5, Meidroth as No. 12 and Gonzalez as No. 14.
The Pink Sox prepared to pay that hefty worth to make the form of big-name splash that had eluded them this offseason.
They had been thought of reputable suitors for celebrity slugger Juan Soto earlier than he reached a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets and for the left-handed Fried earlier than he agreed to an eight-year, $218 million pact with the Yankees.
The Pink Sox have additionally been linked to right-handed starter Corbin Burnes, who stays a free agent and whose contract is anticipated to exceed Fried’s.
Armed with a fastball that averaged 97.2 mph, Crochet made 32 begins in 2024 after spending his first three MLB seasons as a reliever. That workload marked a profitable return from Tommy John surgical procedure that stored him out all of 2022 and most of 2023.
Initially drafted No. 11 general in 2020, Crochet earned an All-Star choice on an in any other case traditionally dangerous White Sox group that set a doubtful report with 121 losses.
Crochet was the topic of widespread hypothesis earlier than the commerce deadline, however the lefty’s need for a contract extension with the intention to comply with pitch within the postseason difficult his state of affairs.
He now slots atop a Pink Sox rotation that additionally hopes to get again right-hander Lucas Giolito, who missed all of final season — his first with Boston — after present process elbow surgical procedure.
Nick Pivetta, who went 6-12 with a 4.14 ERA with the Pink Sox final season, is a free agent, whereas Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford are all set to return.
Wednesday marked the second time in eight years that the Pink Sox added an ace via a commerce with the White Sox, having additionally finished so for Chris Sale earlier than the 2017 season.
Boston traded the oft-injured Sale to the Atlanta Braves final offseason, and the lanky left-hander delivered a resurgent season by main the Nationwide League with 18 wins, a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts en path to his first-ever Cy Younger Award.
The Pink Sox have been among the many extra lively MLB groups this offseason. Along with their failed pursuits of Soto and Fried, the Pink Sox signed former Yankees nearer Aroldis Chapman to a one-year contract this month.
Boston completed 81-81 final season. It was the fourth time in 5 years that the Pink Sox missed the playoffs, a stretch that has included three last-place finishes within the American League East.
Initially Revealed: December 11, 2024 at 4:03 PM EST
