It is a question of when, not if, the Chicago White Sox trade Garrett Crochet.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that teams expect Crochet to be traded this offseason. White Sox general manager Chris Getz also made it clear what the team is looking for in return: position players. As the White Sox averaged 3.1 runs per game, tied for the third-worst mark in franchise history, upgrading the lineup needs to be a priority.
Crochet thrived in his first year as a starter. He posted a 3.58 ERA and a 1.068 WHiP over his 146 innings, striking out 209 batters with 33 walks. At 25-years-old and with two years of team control left, Crochet is a potential building block for any contender.
Let’s take a look at three possible landing spots for Crochet:
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are perfectly positioned to make a run at acquiring Crochet.
Corbin Burnes is a free agent, leaving a potential void at the top of the Orioles’ rotation. Youngsters such as infielders Jordan Westburg, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday have begun to establish themselves at the major-league level. Adley Rutschman is one of the best young catchers in the game. Meanwhile, the Orioles have two top-13 prospects, per MLB.com: third baseman/first baseman Coby Mayo and catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo. Several other prospects are close to major-league ready. The Orioles have the pieces and depth in the farm system to land Crochet.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies attempted to trade for Crochet at the trade deadline. However, Buster Olney and Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported that the Phillies refused to include pitching prospect Andrew Painter as part of any deal.
The Phillies have enough talent to acquire Crochet without including Painter. Shortstops Aidan Miller and Starlyn Caba and outfielder Justin Crawford are top-100 prospects. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Alec Bohm is on the trade block. As Bohm is under team control through 2026, he could be part of a package to bring Crochet to Philadelphia.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox may be the best fit for Crochet.
The Red Sox have an intriguing trio of pitchers in Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck. Lucas Giolito missed the 2024 season due to elbow surgery and should return early in 2025. Â While that rotation has potential, the Red Sox need a lefty and a top-of-the-rotation arm. Crochet could be exactly that. As Sean McAdam from MassLive.com said on the Foul Territory podcast, the White Sox might be willing to accept Wilyer Abreu as a headliner for Crochet. The question: What else would the Red Sox be willing to offer to make a trade work?