MLB teams and their arbitration-eligible players had until 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday to settle on deals and avoid an arbitration hearing, and the Boston Red Sox have done that with a pair of their starters.
Crochet, who spent last season with the Chicago White Sox before Boston acquired him in a blockbuster trade this offseason, was great in his first season as a starter. He made 32 starts, recording a 3.58 ERA, 1.068 WHIP and 12.9 K/9 while his innings were limited at the end of the year.
Both pitchers were All-Stars in 2024 and could earn the same honors in 2025.
Red Sox Already Considering Big Move With Recent Addition
Coming into the offseason, Craig Breslow and his staff wanted to “raise the ceiling” of the team’s starting rotation, and they have done exactly that by acquiring multiple starting pitchers.
One of the starters who was acquired via trade is former Chicago White Sox ace Garret Crochet. Despite being on one of the worst teams in MLB history last season, Crochet looked like one of the best pitchers in baseball. And according to Chris Cotillo from MassLive, the Red Sox have already begun contract extension discussions with the talented lefty.
An extension would be beneficial for both sides. For the Red Sox, the benefits are obvious. Any time you can acquire a cost-controlled, 25-year-old starting pitcher who can anchor your rotation you do it. Also, because they gave up a prospect haul to get him, they’ll want to keep him as a Red Sox for years to come.
That being said, there are some risks attached to Crochet. Last season was his first as a starter and the first time in his career that he threw for more than 100 innings (146). This could have been a factor in his season splits before and after the All-Star Game.
According to StatMuse, before the mid-season break, Crochet had a record of 6-6 with a 3.02 ERA; after the All-Star Game, Crochet went winless with a 0-6 record and a 5.12 ERA.
For Crochet — who, according to MLBTradeRumors, is projected to earn $2.9 million in 2025 — the benefit of signing a long-term extension would be him making significantly more than that for years to come.
Breslow has done a great job of adding pitching to the roster. Headlined by the addition of Crochet (and Walker Buehler in free agency), the team’s rotation is much improved and deeper. As a Red Sox fan I hope Garret Crochet is the ace of our starting rotation for years to come.
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