Garrett Crochet: Why Contending MLB Teams Should Want To Pry Him Away From Chicago

Garrett Crochet: Why Contending MLB Teams Should Want To Pry Him Away From Chicago

The White Sox suck. They’re totally man overboard and at this current moment have a record of 17-50. Everybody is available for the right price. It’s no secret by now that guys like Luis Robert and Garrett Crochet can be had. We really need to have a chat about why the latter is someone contending teams need to be all over on the trade market.

Crochet, 24, was the 11th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Crochet thus far at the MLB level. He’s been hurt a lot and he’s been shifted around as a starter / reliever / hybrid player. Still, this is an arm contending teams should really consider investing arms.

The former Tennessee product is currently posting an ERA of 3.33 across 13 starts. He’s already hit a career high in innings (73.2) while leading the AL in strikeouts (103) and majors in K per 9 rate (12.3).

Obviously, Crochet is having a great year. The price tag probably won’t be cheap but it also shouldn’t be outrageous either. He’s not been a player that’s been super durable and that has to be baked into his cost. He didn’t pitch the entire 2022 season via injury. Does anybody believe he’s going to hold up long term as a starter? It’s hard to trust that. Especially given his lengthy 6-foot-6, 245 frame throwing straight gas.

Crochet is a risky investment but if you really look under the hood, he’s an easy one to talk yourself into. His underlying metrics are ridiculous.

Right now, Crochet is essentially succeeding because he’s blowing fastballs by guys. The only part of his game that he’s not totally thriving at is getting hitters to miss more on his slider and cutter. As I pointed out with Zack Wheeler years ago, these guys don’t always fail because it’s their fault. A lot of times, bad teams just really screw up pitch utilization and the mechanics of pitching. Getting a 6-foot-6 body dialed in is easier said than done. Getting Crochet in a winning environment surrounded by a real pitching staff to dial in the slider and cutter more will take him from good to great.

Let’s also remember here that you’re not just buying the player. You’re buying the player. Because Crochet had injuries and a bullpen role baked into his past, his current salary is 800K. That’s with two more additional years of control after this year. You’re getting Crochet locked in for three postseason runs. Yes, Crochet will get raises next year and the following year via arbitration. He’s just locked in now for such a low number right now that his raises probably won’t even get him to $15 million per year by the end of the deal.

I say this all the time. The 40-man roster is the 40-man roster. You simply cannot keep every prospect that comes through your system. Not with the Rule 5 Draft element that exists. You’re not just acquiring Crochet. You’re buying a contract that’s instantly creating surplus value as long as he’s healthy. Depending on price, that’s a gamble I’m willing to take. Plus in reality, you have the qualifying year at your disposal and if you’re worried about health long term you can avoid the big payday that will come down the road while still being in line to get your asset back.

2024 Vendetta MLB Power Rankings: June

Garrett Crochet represents a rare opportunity on the trade market. A smart team that can work out a reasonable deal with Chicago should be all over it. You’re going to want to monitor this situation heading into the deadline. It could change a pennant race.

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