Garrett Crochet’s Blockbuster Deal with the Boston Red Sox: A Game-Changer for the Franchise
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the baseball world, left-hander Garrett Crochet and the Boston Red Sox have agreed on a six-year, $170 million contract extension. This deal, confirmed by sources to ESPN on Monday, ensures that the 25-year-old ace will remain with the organization that acquired him this winter to spearhead its rotation.
The contract is set to commence in 2026 and includes an opt-out clause after the 2030 season, at which point Crochet will be 31 years old. This agreement guarantees him the most lucrative deal ever for a player with over four years of service, surpassing the five-year, $137.5 million contract that Jacob deGrom signed with the New York Mets in 2019.
Despite months of negotiations, the two sides faced challenges in valuing Crochet due to his limited experience. He has pitched only 224 innings in his career, having spent 2020 and 2021 as a reliever, sitting out 2022 after Tommy John surgery, and returning to the bullpen in 2023 before transitioning to the rotation with the Chicago White Sox last year. Due to his lack of extensive numbers, Crochet will earn just $3.8 million this year, despite a breakout season in which he struck out 209 and walked 33 in 146 innings.
Nevertheless, Boston has rewarded him as a frontline starter, offering ace-level money without any deferrals and preventing him from reaching free agency after the 2026 season. The Red Sox were convinced by Crochet’s performance this spring, eliminating any doubts about his potential. If he opts out after 2030, Crochet could still secure another nine-figure deal. For instance, left-hander Max Fried, who was 31 on Opening Day this year, received an eight-year, $218 million free agent contract from the New York Yankees. Similarly, at 32, left-hander Blake Snell signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for five years and $182 million.
With a fastball that can reach 100 mph and a devastating cutter added to his arsenal last season, Crochet is considered one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball. This was a significant factor in Boston’s decision to invest heavily in him, both in terms of dollars and players.
- Boston traded catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez to acquire Crochet during the winter meetings.
This trade demonstrated the Red Sox’s readiness to transition from years of mediocrity to contention. With a solid major league core and the emergence of prospects like Kristian Campbell, who is now starting at second base for Boston, outfielder Roman Anthony, and shortstop Marcelo Mayer, the Red Sox aggressively pursued upgrades during the winter.
In addition to Crochet, the Red Sox signed third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract and right-hander Walker Buehler to a one-year, $21.05 million deal, adding veteran big leaguers to their roster. However, Crochet was undoubtedly the crown jewel of their winter acquisitions.
Remarkably, no pitcher who received a nine-figure contract had done so with fewer than 800 innings. That Crochet achieved this milestone with less than one-third of that total speaks volumes about the impression the 6-foot-6, 245-pound fireballer made on the Red Sox during his brief time with the team.
Selected No. 11 by the White Sox out of Tennessee in the 2020 draft, Crochet made an immediate impact by skipping straight to the major leagues and throwing six scoreless innings during the COVID-shortened season. He remained in the big leagues the following year, serving as a high-leverage reliever for a White Sox team that won the American League Central Division.
Elbow reconstruction surgery temporarily halted Crochet’s ascent, keeping him out for all of 2022 and limiting him to just 12⅔ innings in 2023. Chicago’s decision to move him into the rotation proved prophetic, as Crochet earned a spot on the AL All-Star team and became one of the most sought-after players at the trade deadline.
With a planned shutdown to manage his innings, Crochet made it clear that he would only pitch for a contender if offered a contract extension. No team met this request, and Crochet spent the final three months of the season pitching no more than four innings per start.
Ultimately, Chicago placed him back on the trade block over the winter and struck a blockbuster deal with Boston, which expressed interest in extending Crochet and eventually reached an agreement on a deal that could max out at $180 million with escalators.
Originally Written by: Jeff Passan
