It’s fortunate that rookie pitchers Drew Thorpe and Jonathan Cannon are showing potential.
This is especially relevant as USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports that the Chicago White Sox plan to trade Garrett Crochet before the trade deadline.
Bob Nightengale has reliable sources within the White Sox organization, so it’s clear that Crochet’s time on the Southside is running out.
The Sox have one reported reason for their decision, along with two additional factors driving their desire to trade their ace pitcher.
According to Nightengale, the White Sox did have brief discussions about a contract extension with Crochet, but they did not reach an agreement. This lack of a deal is a major factor motivating the Sox to trade him.
You might question why the White Sox would consider trading Crochet even though he is under team control for two more seasons. The team’s projected timeline for competitiveness does not align with the remaining years of control over Crochet. The earliest the Sox could realistically contend for the AL Central is 2026.
For that to happen, they need Thorpe and Cannon to develop into top-of-the-rotation pitchers, along with other prospects like Noah Schultz, Jairo Iriarte, Jake Eder, Mason Adams, Nick Nastrini, and Ky Bush. Hitting prospects such as Colson Montgomery, Edgar Quero, Bryan Ramos, and Jacob Gonzalez also need to prove themselves at the major league level. Additionally, it would be beneficial if Oscar Colas can contribute offensively in the majors.
Thus, 2025 would likely be a year focused on player development before the team is ready to compete. Without an extension, Crochet would enter his final year of team control just as the Sox are aiming to contend, risking losing him for nothing if they wait. Historically, teams don’t win the World Series in their first year as contenders.
Given Crochet’s current $800,000 salary and the two remaining offseasons of team control, his trade value is likely at its peak, even with potential innings limits. As this is his first year as a starter, the Sox are limiting his innings, but he still holds value as a reliever in high-leverage situations come October.
Nightengale also noted that the White Sox are unlikely to trade Luis Robert Jr. at the deadline due to his recent injuries and lower performance metrics, which would not yield full value. Therefore, Crochet, along with Erick Fedde, is a key asset for the Sox to obtain impactful prospects.
The White Sox need high-upside players to rebuild by 2026, especially hitters. This is another reason they are motivated to trade Crochet, as he could bring back the type of players they need.
However, the asking price for Crochet is steep. Nightengale reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers made an offer that the Sox promptly rejected.
It’s disappointing to see the White Sox not investing in keeping Crochet, as it’s rare to find a quality ace. Instead of pairing him with Thorpe and Cannon for future success, the Sox are likely to let a promising young pitcher thrive elsewhere.
