Garrett Crochet admitted he hoped to be moved for a ‘pretty big package’ prior to trade to Red Sox
The Red Sox gave up two of their top five prospects to land Crochet.
Garrett Crochet sounds off on the trade that sent him to the Red Sox: Boston got the ace it was looking for on Wednesday, but it came with a pricey cost to pay in terms of prospects.
The Red Sox gave up catcher Kyle Teel (No. 25 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline), outfielder Braden Montgomery (No. 54 overall prospect, per MLB Pipeline), infielder Chase Meidroth (No. 11 prospect in Red Sox’ system, per MLB Pipeline), and pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez (No. 14 prospect in Red Sox’ system, per MLB Pipeline in a trade for All-Star Garrett Crochet from the White Sox.
While the trade cost the Red Sox two of their top five prospects, Crochet admitted that he thought prior to the deal he wanted to see himself get moved for a pretty big package.
“Part of me, when rumors and everything started going around, I was just thinking, ‘Damn, Chris [Getz]. You better get a pretty big package because I value myself pretty highly. I hope you are able to cash in,’” Crochet told MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, referring to the White Sox’ general manager. “I think he did pretty well. Selfishly thinking, he put me in a pretty good spot where I can go and have success.”
If Crochet has a season like he did in 2024, he’ll likely prove to be worth the package the Red Sox gave up for him. The lefty was one of the best pitchers in baseball last season, going 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA in his first full season as a starter. His 209 strikeouts were the fourth-most in the American League while his strikeouts per nine innings pitched (12.9) would’ve led the American League had he pitched enough innings to qualify. His WHIP (1.068) would’ve also been top five in the American League had he thrown enough innings.
Despite Crochet’s success on the mound last season, the White Sox had a dreadful 2024 season. Their 41-121 record was the worst ever in the modern baseball era as the White Sox went 9-23 in the 32 games Crochet started.
There were several moments throughout the White Sox’ losing season that left Crochet befuddled, such as when the Rangers robbed them of a game-winning home run.
“I remember so many games where I would get in the car on the way home and be like, ‘What the [heck] just happened?’ [Travis] Jankowski robbing the [potential Andrew Vaughn walk-off three-run] home run [in August]. It was like, ‘Dude, what is going on?’” Crochet told Merkin. “Most games you could find two or three moments where it’s like, ‘How does that not go our way?’ We truly seemed to be the most unlucky team, which happened to award us the most losingest team, which is tough.”
Crochet’s success on the mound made him a hot commodity ahead of the trade deadline in July. However, he expressed that he would only pitch in the 2024 postseason with whichever team traded for him if he had an extension in place. As a result, Crochet wasn’t moved.
In his interview with Merkin, Crochet said that he didn’t have any substantial extension talks with the White Sox, admitting that it was “kind of smart” for the team to trade him due to his service time. He has two seasons left of team control.
However, despite a historically poor season in Chicago, Crochet expressed some gratitude and appreciation for the team that drafted and developed him.
“There’s definitely a bittersweet feeling,” Crochet told Merkin. “Feeling like the White Sox were the team that first believed in me. But I guess this game is such a business side of things that I’m just excited to be a Red Sox now.”
Schedule and results
The Celtics returned from their four-day break on Thursday and picked up a relatively easy win over the Pistons, defeating Detroit 123-99. Boston will travel down to the nation’s capital and take on Washington on Sunday at 6 p.m.
The Bruins, meanwhile, found themselves in the losing column for the second straight game on Thursday. They fell to the Kraken, 5-1. The Bruins continue their trip out west on Saturday when they battle the Canucks at 10 p.m.
Finally, the Patriots return from their bye week this week. They’re also out west to battle the Cardinals on Sunday. Kick-off for that game is at 4:25 p.m.
The Tatum household is in the Christmas spirit
Jayson Tatum didn’t play in Thursday’s win over the Pistons to rest a knee injury. But he also dealt with some hijinx at home with the Elf on the Shelf.
Payton Pritchard makes Celtics history
Pritchard added to his case to win Sixth Man of the Year on Thursday. He scored a game-high 27 points and added a game-high 10 assists while he shot 10 of 20 from the field and 7 of 15 from deep. With that stat line, Pritchard became the first Celtics bench player to ever have at least 25 points, 10 assists, and five made 3-pointers in a game.
Daily highlight
Rams star wide receiver Puka Nacua seemingly makes a highlight grab every week. He did so again in the Rams’ 12-6 win over the 49ers on Thursday, using San Francisco cornerback Charvarius Ward’s helmet to help make a catch in the first quarter.
On this day
The Red Sox wouldn’t be denied in their pursuit of Manny Ramirez in free agency 24 years ago. Friday marks the anniversary that Ramirez opted to sign an eight-year, $160 million contract with Boston, which was the richest in team history at the time.
While Boston wound up getting Ramirez, it actually wasn’t a certainty that he would sign with the Red Sox during the Winter Meetings earlier that week.
“The competition between the Red Sox and Cleveland Indians was at the end game stage late last night, and there were strong indications that the Sox were not going to get their man yet again,” The Boston Globe’s Gordon Edes wrote at the time.
The signing wound up being one of the most important transactions in Red Sox history. Ramirez hit 274 homers in eight-plus seasons with the Red Sox, elevating the club back into contention status before winning two World Series titles.
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