The Boston Red Sox haven't made the playoffs since 2021 and it's about time the front office made the necessary moves to make next year different.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow had his chance to rejuvenate the roster last winter but elected to take a more conservative approach, which didn't work.
With plenty of stars in the trade and free agent markets this winter, perhaps the Red Sox will finally make aggressive decisions to give the club a fighting chance to compete in 2025.
"Every team could use (Garrett) Crochet," CBS Sports' Mike Axisa wrote Friday when discussing where top trade candidates could land this winter. "He would have the greatest impact on a team on the postseason bubble. Think (Texas) Rangers, (Cincinnati) Reds, Red Sox, etc. Crochet could push a team like that over the threshold and into October."
Crochet posted a 6-12 record with a 3.58 ERA, 209-to-33 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .222 batting average against and a 1.07 WHIP in 146 innings pitched for the Chicago White Sox in 2024.
The 25-year-old was one of the most coveted trade targets at this summer's deadline. However, Crochet gave a condition that he wouldn't pitch in the postseason if he were dealt.
Consequently, the left-handed pitcher remained on the worst team in Major League Baseball history in hopes of his stock rising for this winter's trade market.
According to Spotrac, the phenom southpaw's projected market value is roughly $129 million over a seven-year deal, translating to nearly $18 million annually.
The 2020 first-round draft pick has two years left of arbitration, so the Red Sox could acquire him without adding much to the payroll. Granted, Boston would have to sacrifice a decent haul of prospect capital to the rebuilding White Sox in exchange but doing so might be worth it.
Regardless, the Red Sox need to make moves this winter if they want to return to the postseason. Pursuing a controllable and young ace like Crochet wouldn't be a horrible place to start.
