On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The rumors since the 2024 trade deadline are finally becoming a reality for the Chicago White Sox. Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the Boston Red Sox are acquiring Chicago's left-handed starting pitcher, Garrett Crochet, pending a physical. The trade is a culmination of many rumors throughout the offseason that have linked up to 12 teams to the White Sox blossoming ace.
The Red Sox boast one of the sport's deepest farm systems and will send four players to Chicago . Catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez will join the White Sox organization. The deal represents a significant haul for Chicago, a steep price in return for an ace under two years of arbitration.
The Chicago White Sox will be receiving four prospects from the Boston Red Sox, all of whom are highly regarded, sources tell ESPN. It's a big return for Chicago, but for a pitcher like Crochet -- an ace-level starter with two years of cheap control -- that's the price to pay.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 11, 2024
The Return
The players represent Boston's 4th, 5th, 11th, and 14th-ranked prospects, per MLB.com's Red Sox organizational rankings list. Reports linked the White Sox to Montgomery in the lead-up to the 2024 draft, but the Red Sox eventually selected him 14th overall, with MLB.com ranking him 54th in their top 100.
Teel is also a first-round pick chosen 14th overall by the Red Sox in the 2023 draft and is currently rated the 25th overall prospect in baseball. Projections consider Meidroth, Boston's 4th-round draftee in 2022, a second baseman in the majors. The Red Sox signed Gonzalez out of Venezuela for $250,000 in 2018, and he can become a top-of-the-rotation starter if he can limit walks.
Turning the Page
Moving on from Crochet is a tough pill to swallow for the White Sox. The lefty has come a long way since Chicago drafted him in the first round of the 2020 draft. He played a significant role as a reliever for the 2021 division champions, but Tommy John surgery cost him all of 2022 and most of 2023. The White Sox surprised many when they announced he would be their opening-day starter in 2024. The decision paid off as Crochet produced an all-star season.
However, after a record-setting 121-loss campaign, Chicago must supplement its organization with young talent as it embarks on its second rebuild in less than a decade.
What's On Tap Next?
The White Sox and their fans can move on from speculation and offseason rumors regarding their top starter. Aside from this trade, the White Sox expect to have a quiet offseason. The decision to trade Crochet is prudent as the White Sox do not expect to contend in the next two years, and ownership was unlikely to extend the young lefty.
Chris Getz has returned significant young talent to the deal, but only time will tell if the decision pays off. The hard part is turning young talent into a winning ballclub.
More must-reads:
- Padres already demoting one of their trade-deadline acquisitions
- Blue Jays demolish MLB records with eye-popping Coors Field performance
- The 'MLB playoff home run leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Here's Where Seattle Mariners Stand in Competitive Playoff Picture
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners continued its torrid post-trade deadline stretch with an 11-inning, 4-3 win against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at T-Mobile Park. The Mariners' victory secured a series sweep against the White Sox and improved their record to 63-53. Seattle is 6-1 since the July 31 trade deadline through Thursday. Right fielder Dominic Canzone hit a walk-off RBI single to secure the victory against Chicago. The M's gained ground on all the teams immediately ahead of them in the playoff picture and created more distance from the teams behind them. Through Thursday, the Mariners are one game behind the Boston Red Sox for the top American League Wild Card spot, 1.5 games ahead of the New York Yankees for the second Wild Card spot and 1.5 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. The Astros, Yankees and Red Sox were all idle Thursday, which allowed Seattle to make ground. Since the deadline, the Mariners are tied for fourth in the majors and second in the AL in runs; tied for second in the majors and second outright in the AL in home runs (13); and first in the majors in steals (18). Seattle could take sole possession of first place in the AL West over the weekend. The Mariners will close out its 10-game homestand with a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays beginning Friday. While that is happening, the Astros will play their own three-game series against the Yankees. Game 1 of Seattle's series against Tampa Bay begins at 6:40 p.m. PT on Friday. Luis Castillo will start for the Mariners and Drew Rasmussen will start for the Rays.
Green Bay Packers’ Xavier McKinney Gets Honest After Big Injury News
The Green Bay Packers are gearing up for their preseason opener against the New York Jets. Unfortunately, they are not going to have one of their best defensive players available to play in the game even if they wanted him to. Xavier McKinney has been ruled out for the rest of training camp and all three preseason games due to a calf injury. After signing a big four-year, $67 million contract with the Packers last offseason in NFL free agency, McKinney put together a big first year in the green and gold. He took on a major leadership role and was a dynamic playmaker in the secondary. In order to compete for a Super Bowl, Green Bay will need him healthy. Following the news of his injury, McKinney spoke out about the situation. Green Bay Packers’ Xavier McKinney Gets Honest After Big Injury News As shared by ESPN, McKinney shared his gratefulness for the injury being caught before it got worse. He also offered some comforting words for Packers fans. “Obviously glad that we caught it when we caught it, so just kind of trying to take it slow and then the build-up, obviously,” McKinney said. “But I’ll be ready when it’s time to go, for sure.” During the 2024 season with Green Bay, McKinney played in all 17 regular season games. He racked up 88 total tackles to go along with a sack, a fumble recovery, eight interceptions, and 11 defended passes. Those numbers show just how big of an impact McKinney makes for the defense. Jeff Hafley was spoiled in his debut season as the team’s defensive coordinator by having him patrolling the final layer of his unit. Hopefully, McKinney will be able to recovery quickly and get back to 100 percent by Week 1 against the Detroit Lions. He sounds confident that he’ll be able to do just that.
Steelers Now Have A Surefire Solution To End Cam Heyward's Hold-In
The Pittsburgh Steelers got hit with quite a bit of interesting news on Thursday. It started when NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward was staging a hold-in, attending training camp but not fully participating as he seeks a new contract. Not long after that, kicker Chris Boswell was also reported to be interested in a new deal, adding another contract situation to the team’s growing list of concerns. As for Heyward, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly quickly suggested a possible solution that could effectively end the hold-in without requiring a full contract extension. Kaboly proposed the idea of adding incentives to Heyward’s existing deal, which would reward performance while avoiding a long-term financial commitment. He believes this compromise would allow the Steelers to show respect for Heyward’s contributions while keeping the team’s salary cap in check. Kaboly explained that the Steelers used a similar approach in 2016 with star wide receiver Antonio Brown. At the time, Brown was also seeking a new deal, and instead of offering an extension, the team added incentives to his contract to keep him satisfied for the season. The move kept Brown on the field and productive, and Kaboly believes this method could work just as well for Heyward, helping resolve the situation without complicating the team’s financial outlook. "Steelers don't restructure contracts until a year out, but Cam Heyward has 2 years remaining on his deal," Kaboly posted on his social media. "Here is the kicker and this is what I would use if I were Heyward: The Steelers worked some funny math with Antonio Brown in 2016 to get him a $4 million raise." Heyward just received a new deal ahead of the 2024 season. Now, Kaboly is pointing out that with two years remaining on his contract, the Steelers typically don’t restructure deals until there’s only one year left. However, Kaboly believes that if the team follows the same approach they used with Brown, it could help resolve Heyward’s situation. "They moved $4 million of AB's 2017 money to 2016, then tore up the contract in 2017 and made him the highest-paid WR in the NFL," Kaboly said. "AB got a $4 million raise, and the Steelers were able to keep their long-standing policy intact." Both sides could technically come out ahead with this approach. The money was going to Heyward anyway, but by advancing a portion of it to this year, he gets earlier financial recognition without requiring a full extension. Then, when the time comes to negotiate a new deal, both parties can do so in good faith, working toward a contract that makes sense for everyone involved. For now, moving some money forward would be a clear sign of appreciation for Heyward’s contributions and an acknowledgment of how the market has shifted for elite defensive linemen. It would also allow the Steelers to maintain their long-standing policy of waiting until a player enters the final year of his contract before negotiating an extension. Ultimately, it’s a short-term financial gesture that builds trust and buys time for a more permanent solution. Steelers And Cam Heyward Both Could Come Out As Winners This approach not only benefits Heyward financially in the short term but also helps preserve the relationship between the player and the organization. It shows the Steelers value his contributions and want to keep him motivated without rushing into long-term decisions prematurely. By handling things this way, the team retains flexibility in managing their salary cap and future roster moves. It also avoids the potential pitfalls of a large extension that might limit options later. For Heyward, it offers a sense of security and respect while keeping open the door for a more comprehensive agreement when the time is right.
Warriors Rumors: Jonathan Kuminga, Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Seth Curry
The Golden State Warriors’ offseason continues to revolve around one question. Namely, what happens with Jonathan Kuminga? Golden State currently has just nine players signed to standard contracts, and the Kuminga standoff is slowing the rest of its roster moves. Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reported that the Warriors are keeping Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II in a holding pattern until Kuminga’s situation is resolved. Malcolm Brogdon and Seth Curry remain on the team’s radar, with Javonte Green also a possible addition. The Kings and Suns have both explored sign-and-trade deals for Kuminga, but the Warriors haven’t been impressed with what’s been offered. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints noted that those talks haven’t reached a serious stage, and there are no other known suitors at the moment. Warriors Stuck For Now? Cap expert Yossi Gozlan explained in his Third Apron column that Golden State is “probably stuck” until the Kuminga situation plays out. The Warriors are believed to have deals in place with Horford and Melton, but those signings can’t be finalized while Kuminga is still unsigned. If Golden State uses its taxpayer mid-level exception, it would be hard-capped at $207.8 million — opening the door for a rival with cap space to swoop in and make Kuminga a near $30 million per year offer the Warriors couldn’t match. Gozlan views a sign-and-trade as the most practical solution for both sides. If Kuminga re-signs, Golden State would likely aim for a deal in the $22–23 million per year range, which would allow the team to use the taxpayer MLE and add three more players on minimum contracts while staying below the hard cap. For now, all signs point to Kuminga remaining with the Warriors to start next season, but the impasse continues to hold up the rest of Golden State’s plans. More NBA News Rumors
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
