The Chicago White Sox are apparently on the verge of making significant changes to their roster in the upcoming offseason, as they plan to trade one of their most promising talents, Garrett Crochet. According to a rival evaluator at the GM Meetings, "They're going to trade him this winter. It's not a matter of if. It's a question of when." This news arrives amidst speculations and expectations within the baseball community.
Crochet's 2024 Performance
Garrett Crochet, a 25-year-old left-hander, has been a vital component of the White Sox's pitching rotation. Crochet ended the 2024 season having pitched a commendable 146 innings, with a respectable 3.58 ERA. However, deeper metrics reveal an even more impressive picture of his performance. His Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) stood at a remarkable 2.69, and his expected ERA was 2.83, further highlighting his effectiveness on the mound. Even more telling is his deserved run average, which came in at 2.75.
Notably, Crochet led all pitchers who threw at least 140 innings in 2024 with an impressive 35.1% strikeout rate. His control was also exceptional, as evidenced by a low 5.5% walk rate. These statistics underline Crochet’s prowess and hint at the high value he brings to any pitching lineup.
A Diversified Arsenal
This season, Crochet enriched his pitching repertoire by adding a cutter in the low 90s. Late in the season, he introduced an upper-90s sinker, a pitch that immediately demonstrated its worth as opponents struggled to hit against it, batting just .154. Crochet used this sinker sparingly—throwing a total of 50 sinkers, with 36 coming in his last three starts—but its potential impact was clearly significant.
Contract Standoff and Trade Speculation
Despite his standout performances, Crochet's relationship with the White Sox has hit a snag. Crochet has reportedly demanded a contract extension as a prerequisite to pitching in the postseason, a move that has added fuel to the trade rumors. Currently, Crochet is under team control for two more years but earned a modest $800,000 in 2024. Projections indicate his salary will increase to $2.9 million in 2025, which is still a bargain for a pitcher of his caliber.
Given the team's struggles and their status as the statistically worst defensive team in 2024, changes are evidently on the horizon. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Crochet missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery, which may affect the club's willingness or ability to meet his contract demands.
Strategic Moves Ahead
The White Sox's decision to trade a player of Crochet's caliber is undoubtedly influenced by multiple factors. With the team aiming to rebuild or restructure, leveraging Crochet's market value could bring in essential assets or prospects necessary to address other areas of weakness, particularly in defense. Crochet's effectiveness against right-handed batters as opposed to left-handed batters adds another layer to the strategic considerations surrounding his role and potential trade value.
As the offseason progresses, the developments surrounding Garrett Crochet will be pivotal for the White Sox. His statistical excellence on the field juxtaposed with the off-field contract dynamics creates a complex backdrop against which the White Sox must navigate. Whether Crochet stays or moves on to another team is yet to be seen, but the certainty of his trade seems inevitable if the whispers at the GM Meetings are anything to go by.
For now, Chicago's front office has a significant decision to make. The next few months will reveal the extent to which they are willing to reshape a team that showed some promise yet fell short when it came to defensive support and postseason execution.