Red Sox Bolster AL East Hopes with Bold Trade for White Sox Ace
Red Sox Bolster AL East Hopes with Bold Trade for White Sox Ace
The Red Sox aren’t sitting idle this offseason.
On Wednesday, Boston responded to the Yankees’ acquisition of Max Fried by making a significant move of its own, acquiring talented left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet from the White Sox.
After last offseason’s lack of action, this is a welcome change for Red Sox fans.
In 2024, Crochet posted a 6-12 record with a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts. He struck out 209 batters while walking just 33 in 146 innings. One of the few bright spots for a struggling White Sox team, Crochet boasts one of the most dominant fastballs in the game.
According to Baseball Savant, Crochet ranked in the 98th percentile for fastball run value and averaged a fastball velocity of 97.2 mph. His chase rate (33.5%), whiff rate (33.1%), and strikeout rate (35.1%) were all among the best in the league.
In exchange for Crochet, the Red Sox sent multiple prospects to Chicago, including catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-handed pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez, as reported by MLB insider Ken Rosenthal.
This move comes just a day after the Yankees secured Fried with an eight-year, $218 million deal. Fried, who went 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 29 starts last season, is now the latest addition to New York’s rotation.
In true rivalry fashion, the Red Sox weren’t about to let the Yankees be the only AL East team to improve its pitching staff this offseason.
More than just a shot at offseason bragging rights, acquiring Crochet signals a serious commitment from Boston’s front office to return to postseason contention. The Red Sox have missed the playoffs in five of the past six seasons since their 2018 World Series win and haven’t had a winning record since 2021, the last time they played into October.
After sitting back last offseason while the Yankees and Orioles strengthened their rosters, Boston looks to make a push in 2025. With last season’s unexpected improvement, the Red Sox are determined to field a competitive team next year and make a return to the AL East race.
