Shortly after acquiring the pitcher, the Boston Red Sox expressed their desire to sign him to a long-term deal.
The Red Sox traded four top prospects for the left-handed pitcher, who had previously stated he was open to an extension regardless of where he landed after leaving the Chicago White Sox. To maximize the value of the trade, Boston must act quickly to secure him with a new contract.
Despite Chicago’s struggles last season, Crochet stood out as a starter, showcasing elite talent and remarkable velocity. The former reliever posted a 3.58 ERA with 209 strikeouts over 146 innings, ranking in the 92nd percentile for fastball velocity and the 98th percentile for strikeout rate in 2024. His stock continues to rise, bolstered by a dominant spring training in which he has yet to allow a run across three Grapefruit League outings, striking out 14 batters in 6.1 innings.
Aware of his increasing value, the 25-year-old has made it clear he won’t negotiate a contract extension once the regular season begins. Speaking to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, Crochet emphasized his focus on the season ahead:
“Once the season starts, I would like for whatever conversations are currently being had to be placed on the back burner until the following offseason. We have a big season ahead of us, and we’re trying to do a lot of special things. I don’t want to be a distraction for the team in any way, and I myself don’t want to be distracted by having to answer these kinds of questions in the media.”
With Opening Day set for March 27, the Red Sox have only a few weeks to reach an agreement before Crochet’s value potentially skyrockets. If they fail to secure a deal now, their chances of re-signing him later could diminish significantly.
After making their biggest offseason investments in six years—including surpassing the luxury tax by signing Alex Bregman and pursuing Juan Soto—the Red Sox have not historically spent as aggressively on pitching. If Crochet performs at a high level this season, maintaining his 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings over 30 starts, Boston may struggle to meet his future asking price.
If top prospects Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman González develop as expected but the Red Sox fail to retain Crochet, the trade could be seen as a major misstep. To justify the deal, Boston needs either a World Series run with Crochet or a long-term extension—otherwise, they risk missing their best opportunity to secure him at a reasonable price.