The Boston Red Sox and left handed pitcher Garrett Crochet have come to terms on a six year, $170M deal which could rise to as high as $180M if all incentives are reached.
Crochet will now be tied to the organization for the foreseeable future, with the earliest opt out in the deal coming following the 2030 MLB campaign. The deal is significant in the fact that it becomes the most guaranteed money ever given out to a player with just over 4 years of service. The previous high-water mark was the 5 year, $137.5M contract that the Mets gave out to Jacob deGrom back in 2019.
The 25 year old was the prize addition to the Red Sox lineup this offseason after the club traded Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Wikelman Gonzalez to the White Sox to acquire him. After a stellar 2024 campaign with Chicago in which he posted a 3.58 ERA, while striking out 209 batters across 146 IP, while issuing only 33 walks, extending the newly minted ace became a top priority for Boston’s front office.
However, negotiations hit a few stumbling blocks along the way given Crochet’s limited MLB track record. For his career, he’s pitched only 224 innings at the Major League level, making it difficult to properly assess his long term value. But given the price Boston paid to acquire him, the team also couldn’t risk watching him leave via free agency in 2026 either.
Because of Tommy John surgery, and his initial deployment as a relief pitcher, Crochet lacked the numbers to push his extension into the $200M plus range. Still, the contract is a massive sign of belief from the Red Sox organization that the southpaw can become one of the top arms in the American League for years to come.
Should he opt out in 2030, Crochet will be only 31 years old, so will very likely command another $100M+ contract on the open market. Max Fried, who just signed an 8 year, $218M deal with the Yankees this past offseason was 31 years old when he put pen to paper with the Bronx Bombers, setting a good comparable for Boston ace.
The 6’6″ lefty has regularly touched 100mph+ on the radar gun throughout his career, making him one of the top strikeout threats in all of baseball. And Boston will need him to be every bit the front of the rotation starter they hope he can become if they hope to bounce out of their early season slumber.
The former White Sox hurler did not factor into the decision in his team’s 5-2 victory over the Rangers on March 27th, though he looked sharp in 5 innings, punching out 4 batters and recording a 3.60 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in the process.
The 1-4 Red Sox are next in action against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday April 2nd, which is also Crochet’s next expected start.
Photo: James. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.