The Chicago White Sox, as expected, sold heavily at the MLB trade deadline. They did not trade one of their finest players, pitcher Garrett Crochet. Teams were unable to acquire Crochet because of his high demand. He told teams that he would not pitch in the bullpen or play in the playoffs unless his contract was extended. Now, he has replied to the criticism he received for those remarks.
“Whether a deal went through or not I don’t think was dependent on that (his desires) being said or not.” Crochet told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. “I think that any team would see the amount of innings I threw last year and find it reasonable, so ultimately I think it was the right call.”
Crochet insists that his demands were not the reason he was not traded by the deadline. He only pitched 12.2 innings in 2023 after missing all of 2022 due to injury. Crochet was attempting to safeguard his health and future contract prospects by not putting himself in a position he was not physically prepared for. While that is a respectable decision, it almost certainly contributed to his trade deadline exclusion.
Two World Series contenders, the Dodgers and the Orioles, were linked to Crochet but ended up with other starting pitchers. Both teams have strong prospects, particularly in their rotations, and could have included Crochet but chose not to. They can still get him in the offseason, but the demands may still be there.
Garrett Crochet’s future
Garrett Crochet (45), Chicago White Sox starting pitcher, throws a pitch against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The White Sox have made their intentions quite plain. They intend to tear down their roster and rebuild for the future. They did a good job doing it around the deadline, but they still have two huge moves to make. Crochet and centerfielder Luis Robert Jr. are both still with the White Sox and will provide significant value if moved.
The teams wanting to add a starter would be comparable to those listed at the trade deadline. The Orioles may be interested, the Yankees were linked to Jack Flaherty before the deadline and will be searching for inexpensive possibilities, and the Dodgers are constantly trying to add. The White Sox have not lost leverage, but they may have lost a little value by waiting until the offseason.
Crochet’s demand for a contract comes as he nears arbitration this offseason. Given his injury history, he wanted to ensure a deal before the offseason by pitching in the playoffs. Contract negotiations have been postponed because he will not be playing until October. Whoever trades for him is likely to give up less in the summer than they would at the deadline.
The White Sox should move Crochet before going to arbitration with him. If the recent few weeks are any indicator, he will want a long-term contract for a large sum of money. As the White Sox continue to deplete their core, Crochet is expected to join a contender this offseason.
