Teams with interest in acquiring Crochet went into talks with the White Sox knowing that he was amenable to extension talks with whichever club got him. The first evidence of that came last summer when Crochet, citing concerns about workload and injury risk (coming off Tommy John surgery in April 2022), made it clear to interested contenders that he would only pitch in the postseason (or go back to the bullpen) if he got an extension in conjunction with a trade.
Crochet’s injury history and lack of track record as a major league starter would seem to make him someone who is open to locking in generational money now. But his comments Wednesday served as a warning that it’s dangerous to pencil him in as signed before a deal gets done. Ahead of what could be another breakout season for the lefty — Vegas odds cast Crochet as having the second-best chance to win the American League Cy Young award — there’s a world in which he bets on himself in search of a bigger deal next winter or on the open market in two years.
There’s likely common ground for both the Sox and Crochet, as his relative youth may allow him to sign a high-dollar deal now, then hit free agency in search of a big payday around age 30. The club, which has little in the way of youthful, top-line pitching in the organization, does seem intent on making it a priority to secure Crochet, who chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has already described as a “bonafide ace.”
“(We’ll) obviously talk about who we are and what we’re all about,” said manager Alex Cora. “At the end of the day, that’s the people upstairs with him. Obviously, it was a big trade and we’d love for him to be part of this for a long time. We know this is a business and it takes two to tango.”
Crochet’s early impressions of the organization have been strong. After spending the first five years of his professional career in one place, the 2020 first-round pick traveled to Boston to meet with team officials shortly after the trade, then returned to town to meet teammates at Fenway Fest in mid-January. Through conversations at a Celtics game, in the bowels of Fenway Park and now in the clubhouse at JetBlue Park, Crochet has begun to feel at home.
“As soon as I was traded to the Red Sox, I knew that this was a place that I could see myself long-term,“ Crochet said. “When you talk about a storied franchise like this one, it’s one that any player would be lucky to call home for whatever duration of time that may be. It’s not exactly fully in my hands. But I’ve been seeing the big picture since as soon as the trade went through.
“Even going back to (Fenway Fest), it seemed like there was a good group cohesiveness going on already. I didn’t want to come in and be boisterous in any way. I just felt like I was able to fit in, slide right in. Guys were very welcoming from the jump. I had a good group of guys reach out right after the trade went through. I think we got off on the right foot and just proceeded accordingly.”
In short order, the Red Sox and Crochet’s representatives will sit down and get down to business when it comes to his future. Things will certainly heat up before Opening Day. For now, Crochet’s sole focus is on first live batting practice session of camp, which is set for Thursday.
“My understanding of it is that Mission 1 was getting to camp and then, talks would happen or not happen after that,“ Crochet said. ”As far as that side of things, I like to leave it to my agent. I just like to come out here and focus on playing ball.”
