As the Chicago White Sox head into the offseason, the team's management appears poised to make a bold move that could reshape their pitching lineup. At the center of this significant roster shift is the talented left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet. Crochet, aged 25, has become a focal point of trade talks, with the White Sox reportedly planning to trade him during the upcoming offseason.
"They're going to trade him this winter. It's not a matter of if. It's a question of when," shared a rival evaluator at the GM Meetings, signaling that discussions around Crochet's future are more an inevitability than speculation. Given his performance and potential, his departure would mark a significant change for the White Sox's pitching rotation.
Crochet's Impactful 2024 Season
Garrett Crochet completed the 2024 season with noteworthy performances. Having missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery, he made an impressive comeback, pitching 146 innings with a 3.58 ERA. His advanced metrics painted an even more compelling picture: a 2.69 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP), an expected ERA of 2.83, and a deserved run average of 2.75. These statistics underscore his effectiveness on the mound.
Crochet demonstrated remarkable dominance, especially with his strikeout capabilities. In 2024, he led pitchers who threw at least 140 innings with a staggering 35.1% strikeout rate, paired with a manageable 5.5% walk rate. These figures highlight him as a premier strikeout artist, further validating his potential value on the trade market.
Developing Craft: New Pitching Arsenal
In an effort to diversify his repertoire, Crochet added a cutter clocking in the low 90s and unveiled an upper-90s sinker late in the season. These additions enriched his arsenal, making him more unpredictable and challenging for batters. Particularly, his sinker was formidable, limiting opponents to a mere .154 batting average. Utilized selectively, Crochet threw 50 sinkers overall, with 36 coming in his final three starts, showcasing his strategic late-season adjustments.
A Discontented Star
Despite his on-field success, Crochet's tenure with the White Sox has not been without complications. The pitcher made it clear that he sought a contract extension, stating this as a condition to pitch in the postseason—an unusual demand reflecting his desire for long-term stability and recognition. However, this quest for security might have contributed to the growing rift with the organization, steering the narrative towards an offseason trade.
Moreover, the economic dimension of the game cannot be ignored. Earning $800,000 in 2024, Crochet's salary is projected to rise significantly to $2.9 million in 2025. For a team like the White Sox, notoriously grappling with defensive issues, deciding on investment in a single player rather than addressing broader team weaknesses becomes a pivotal consideration.
Chicago's Broader Challenges
The White Sox were statistically the worst defensive team in 2024, a glaring issue that likely factored into the decision-making process regarding Crochet's future with the team. With Crochet’s effectiveness more pronounced against right-handed batters, his departure may also be a tactical move to address multi-faceted roster weaknesses rather than focusing solely on one player's development.
As the offseason progresses, all eyes will be on the White Sox as they navigate this pivotal juncture in their journey. The decision to trade a core talent like Crochet not only underscores the team's strategic recalibration but also reflects the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of building a competitive Major League Baseball roster.