On paper, Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet is the platonic ideal of a coveted trade deadline target.
He’s one of the best pitchers in the American League this season, a first-time All-Star who leads the AL in strikeouts (157), strikeouts per nine innings (12.7), Fielding Independent Pitching (2.30), and is still relatively young (25). He can’t become a free agent before 2027.
Ah, but there’s a catch. Crochet has never started before as a professional. His 111.1 innings (through Thursday) are by far a career-high. Given the prevailing wisdom around pitcher usage, it would make sense if any team that acquires Crochet opts to move him to their bullpen, giving him a chance to make an impact this season and be relatively fresh again in 2025.
Just one problem. According to several reports Thursday, Crochet doesn’t want to do any of that.
One slight adjustment to this story: This is simply Crochet’s stance, per sources. His reps aren’t reaching out to teams directly. https://t.co/2tDQDyxrK0
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) July 25, 2024
As first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Crochet would prefer to remain in his team’s starting rotation for the remainder of the season. He would also prefer to sign a long-term contract extension with the team that acquires him. As reported by Patrick Mooney, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic,
At least some potential buyers are aware of Crochet’s current disinterest in becoming a high-leverage reliever or shifting into a hybrid role, unless the team that acquires him is willing to share in that risk and sign him to a long-term contract extension, according to league sources who confirmed Thursday’s report by the New York Post’s Jon Heyman.
The idea of Crochet’s disinterest in a new role with a new team — and a new team’s disinterest in jeopardizing their new acquisition’s health and signing him to a risky extension — only raises the possibility that Crochet will stay put with the Chicago White Sox.
Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
The White Sox are going nowhere in a hurry. At 27-78, they are the worst team in MLB, on pace for a 120-loss season. That would tie the 1961 New York Mets for the most in baseball history.
It’s not uncommon for rebuilding teams to hold onto talented players with multiple years of team control left in their contracts. White Sox general manager Chris Getz might prefer to hold onto Crochet and try to acquire better players this offseason or at next year’s deadline, when the left-hander will still be two years away from free agency.
For the sake of the White Sox’s fan base, that might be the best course of action. Crochet is among the few watchable players on the South Side this season. And while the team needs to rebuild its farm system if it wants to be competitive sooner rather than later, it has other players who should net a a significant return at the trade deadline, such as starting pitcher Eric Fedde, closer Michael Kopech, and outfielder Tommy Pham.
Yahoo Sports reported Thursday that all three players, as well as veteran shortstop Paul DeJong, are drawing interest ahead of the Tuesday trade deadline.
Given Crochet’s interests, the White Sox’s needs, and how unwilling other teams might be to take on the risks Crochet is asking, he might end up staying put.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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