The Boston Red Sox didn’t trade two of their best prospects for Garrett Crochet just to watch their new ace leave in two years. They did so intending to ink Crochet to a long-term contract — and discussions reportedly are underway.
Last month, Boston sent a package including top prospects Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery for Crochet, who’s signed through 2026. Crochet’s contract is difficult to project, as the 25-year-old showed elite potential last season but has limited experience and is three years removed from Tommy John Surgery.
On Wednesday, MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported that Boston and Crochet have begun talks on a new deal.
“The sides have already had some dialogue about a contract extension, a baseball source confirmed Wednesday, though it remains unclear if anything is close,” Cotillo wrote. “The Red Sox and Crochet’s representatives at CAA have been, and will continue to be, in touch about an agreement to avoid arbitration before Thursday’s deadline, and the one-year agreement has been the sides’ main focus throughout this week.
“At the least, however, preliminary discussions about longer-term possibilities have been held, too.
It’s hard to envision the Red Sox allowing Crochet to hit free agency in 2027. You don’t trade that kind of prospect capital for a player — especially one as unproven as Crochet — just for two seasons of work.
Nevertheless, negotiations will be tricky.
Crochet is an elite talent who could cash in on a megadeal in 2027 if he plays to his potential over the next two seasons. But with just 219 big-league innings and one major surgery under his belt, Crochet currently doesn’t deserve a top-of-market contract. He still has much to prove, and betting on himself would be a risky play.
So, both sides have leverage: The Red Sox know Crochet is desperate to cash in on his excellent 2024 season — 3.58 ERA, 209 strikeouts — and Crochet knows Boston must pay him to justify the trade.
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