Garrett Crochet’s injury triggers an interesting clause in his Red Sox contract

Despite all the success the Boston Red Sox have had as of late — they were winners of 15 straight games between July 3-22 — it has come without the aid of their ace, left-hander Garrett Crochet. 

Placed on the injured list on April 26 with left shoulder inflammation and left lat tightness, Crochet was moved to the 60-day injured list on June 5. Accruing the majority of his major league service time this season on the injured list, Crochet's injury triggered an interesting clause in his contract. 

Garrett Crochet could remain in Boston for an additional season due to his injury

Signed to a six-year ($170 million) contract before the 2025 season after his acquisition from the Chicago White Sox, Crochet could add another year to his contract. According to USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale, due to spending 120 days on the injured list, the two-time All-Star can no longer opt out of his contract in 2030 and instead triggered a $15 million club option for the Red Sox to pick up in 2032. 

Still unable to start and with no set plan for a return date, Crochet continues "to do strengthening exercises for [his] rotator cuff," per MLB.com, and could return to action around September to help the Red Sox down the stretch run. Before landing on the injured list, Crochet had struggled after finishing runner-up to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal last season, posting a 3-3 record with a 6.30 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP and a .270 batting average against in six starts. 

Owning the second wild-card spot in the American League and trending toward being buyers at the trade deadline (Aug. 3), getting Crochet back to help start a playoff game for the Red Sox would be an acquisition in and of itself. 

Garrett Crochet isn't too worked up about possibly being on the Red Sox for an extra season

Enjoying his time with the Red Sox already, the 27-year-old Crochet is not too upset that he can't leave Boston early.

"It sucks, but I mean, what’s the worst thing that happens?" Crochet told The Boston Globe. "I’m in Boston for another year? Which is pretty good. This is a place that I wanted to be. That was a clause that was kind of helping the team mitigate the risk, I suppose. And they knew that there was risk. I knew that there was risk."

Spending an extra year in Boston may not be so bad for Crochet, who, with that extra $15 million, will have made a total of $185 million with the Red Sox and re-enter free agency with the potential to make more; Crochet will be 34 the next time he's a free agent.