Future Uncertain for Garrett Crochet as Trade Looms
As the Chicago White Sox gear up for the offseason, a major storyline is unfolding around Garrett Crochet, the promising 25-year-old pitcher who seems to be on the brink of being traded. According to multiple sources, the White Sox intend to move Crochet in the upcoming months, with the sentiment confirmed by an evaluator at the General Manager Meetings who remarked, "They're going to trade him this winter. It's not a matter of if. It's a question of when."
Crochet's performance in the 2024 season has painted him as a more than capable pitcher, promising both potential suitors and his current team an enticing mix of reliability and talent. He pitched 146 innings with an ERA of 3.58, showing significant improvement from his previous seasons. His advanced metrics are even more impressive, with a Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) of 2.69 and an expected ERA of 2.83, underscoring his ability to complicate batters' lives irrespective of his surrounding defense.
Garrett Crochet has notably expanded his pitching repertoire, introducing a cutter in the low 90s and an upper-90s sinker late in the season. His sinker has emerged as a key asset, with opponents managing a meager .154 average against it. During his last three starts, he demonstrated a heavy reliance on this new pitch, throwing 36 of his 50 total sinkers. Additionally, his control on the mound is evident with a 35.1% strikeout rate, leading all pitchers with at least 140 innings pitched, and a commendable walk rate of 5.5%.
Despite his promising on-field performance, Crochet's relationship with the White Sox has been somewhat strained. After missing all of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery and earning $800,000 in 2024, Crochet is on track for a significant salary boost to $2.9 million for the 2025 season. However, it is his demands heading into the postseason that have captured attention. Crochet sought a contract extension as a condition to pitch in the playoffs—a move that underscored his value belief but might have accelerated trade talks.
The White Sox, statistically the worst defensive team in 2024, made life more challenging for their rotation, including Crochet. Despite this, Crochet showed remarkable adaptability and skill, faring better against right-handed batters than left-handers, contradicting traditional lefty-vs-lefty advantages. His style and performance have garnered interest from rival clubs who recognize his undervalued potential amidst the White Sox's defensive struggles.
An often underappreciated talent, Crochet blends youthful vigor with a newly found maturity on the mound. The question remains whether his career will continue in Chicago or if a new team will capitalize on his burgeoning skill set. With two years left under team control, teams looking to acquire Crochet will not only gain a talented pitcher but potentially a franchise cornerstone if they adeptly integrate him into a more robust defensive setup.
The offseason promises to be a period of reflection and negotiation for the White Sox and Crochet. Whether it results in a refreshed commitment to each other or a parting of ways remains to be seen. For now, Garrett Crochet stands as one of the most intriguing players to watch, his future in professional baseball hanging in the balance as trade talks intensify.