Red Sox keep up in arms race with trade for ace

Garrett Crochet. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Red Sox keep up in AL East arms race with trade for White Sox ace

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Dec 11, 2024 4:16 PM ET

The Red Sox aren't taking this offseason off.

On Wednesday, Boston matched New York's free-agency acquisition of starting pitcher Max Fried by landing its own talented pitcher, former White Sox starter Garrett Crochet.

After last offseason, that's a welcome development in Beantown.

In 2024, Crochet went 6-12 with a 3.58 earned run average (ERA) in 32 starts. Crochet had 209 strikeouts while issuing only 33 walks in 146 innings pitched.

One of the only bright spots on Chicago's historically awful 2024 team, the lefty has one of the league's most dominant fastballs.

Per Baseball Savant, Crochet ranked in the 98th percentile in fastball run value and had an average fastball velocity of 97.2 mph.

His chase rate (33.5 percent) and whiff rate (33.1 percent) were among the best in the majors, as was his 35.1 percent strikeout rate.

In adding Crochet, the Red Sox traded multiple prospects — including catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-handed pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez — to the White Sox, per MLB insider Ken Rosenthal.

White Sox acquiring Garrett Crochet from Red Sox for catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez, sources tell @TheAthletic. First: @byJulianMack
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2024

The trade comes one day after the Yankees signed Fried to an eight-year, $218 million contract.

Last season, Fried went 11-10 in 29 starts, posting a 3.25 ERA and striking out 166 batters in 174.1 innings pitched.

Just like in any good rivalry, Boston couldn't let New York be the only AL East team to improve its pitching staff.

More important than winning offseason bragging rights, trading for Crochet signals a concerted effort from the front office to get Boston back in the postseason.

The Red Sox have missed the playoffs in five of the past six seasons after winning the 2018 World Series. They haven't had a winning record since 2021, the last time they played into mid-October.

Last offseason, Boston sat idly while the Yankees and Orioles improved their rosters with trades for outfielder Juan Soto and pitcher Corbin Burnes, respectively.

2024 free agents Adam Duvall and Justin Turner were among the former Red Sox players to sign elsewhere, and the team also traded Chris Sale, who won the 2024 NL Cy Young Award, to the Braves.

The Red Sox's stasis prevented them from earnestly contending for an AL East title a season ago, but after performing better than expected last season, Boston appears ready to field a contender in 2025.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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