The #RedSox today acquired LHP Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox, in exchange for four minor leaguers: RHP Wikelman Gonzalez, C Kyle Teel, OF Braden Montgomery, and INF Chase Meidroth.
The Red Sox acquire Garrett Crochet from the White Sox
Photo credit: © Orlando Ramirez - USA Today
Dec 11, 2024, 16:30 ESTUpdated: Dec 11, 2024, 16:29 EST
An American League East team has gotten better.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox acquired Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox for Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman Gonzalez.
Crochet is a cost-controlled player with good results, as he posted a 3.58 ERA and a 2.69 FIP in 146 innings pitched with a terrible White Sox team last season, with a 35.1 K% and 5.5 BB%. The left-handed pitcher was selected 11th overall in the 2020 draft, this was the first season that Crochet started after pitching in relief for his first four seasons.
He missed one of those seasons (2022) due to Tommy John surgery and only pitched 12.2 innings out of the White Sox bullpen in 2023. As a whole, the left-handed pitcher has a 3.29 ERA and a 2.84 FIP in 219 innings pitched in his career, with a 32.3 K% and an 8 BB%.
This is the first time in recent memory that the Red Sox acquired an ace left-handed starter from the White Sox. On Dec. 6, 2016, they traded a handful of players to the White Sox (including Yoán Moncada) for Chris Sale. The 35-year-old who ended up winning National League Triple Crown in 2024, had more of a track record in the big leagues before the trade to the Red Sox.
Kyle Teel is a catcher who was selected 14th overall by the Red Sox in the 2023 draft. He ranked as MLB Pipeline’s fourth-best prospect with an estimated time of arrival next season. Braden Montgomery was their fifth-best prospect after the Red Sox selected him 12th overall in the 2024 draft.
As for Chase Meidroth and Wikelman Gonzalez, the former ranked as the team’s 11th-best prospect while the latter ranked as the Red Sox’s 14th-best prospect.
All around, it was a solid trade for both teams, as the Red Sox got the ace they wanted, while the White Sox helped their rebuild. The question is, does this take the Red Sox out of the running for free agent starter Corbin Burnes?
Time will tell what will happen, but both the Red Sox and the New York Yankees have gotten stronger. Hopefully, the Toronto Blue Jays do as well.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.