Shortly after acquiring top satr, the Boston Red Sox made it clear they hope to sign him to a long-term extension.
Boston gave up four top prospects for the left-hander, who had previously expressed openness to an extension after leaving the Chicago White Sox. To maximize the value of the trade, the Red Sox must secure a deal sooner rather than later.
Despite the White Sox’s struggles last season, Crochet impressed in his transition from reliever to starter, showcasing elite talent and overwhelming velocity. He 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 value continues to rise, and his strong spring training performances suggest it could climb even higher. In three Grapefruit League outings, he has yet to allow a run, recording 14 strikeouts in just 6.1 innings.
He is well aware of his rising value, and at just 25 years old, his best seasons are likely still ahead. However, he has made it clear that he does not want contract extension talks to continue once the regular season begins.
“For me personally, 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,” Crochet told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. “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.”
Garrett Crochet unwilling to discuss contract extension with Red Sox after Opening Day
With Opening Day set for March 27, the Red Sox have about three weeks to finalize an extension for Garrett Crochet before his value potentially skyrockets. If they fail to reach an agreement, their chances of keeping him long-term could diminish significantly.
Boston made its biggest offseason splash in six years, surpassing the luxury tax by signing Alex Bregman and aggressively pursuing Juan Soto. However, they haven’t shown the same willingness to spend big on pitching in recent years. If they let Crochet enter the season without an extension and he delivers 30 starts with the same dominant 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings he posted in 2024, his price tag may become too steep for the Red Sox to match.
If top prospects Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman González develop as expected, but Boston fails to lock down Crochet long-term, the trade could end up feeling like a wasted opportunity. The Red Sox need either a World Series run with Crochet or a long-term extension, and time is running out to secure the latter at the best possible value.