The Boston Red Sox's Dec. 11 trade for Garrett Crochet has been the team's biggest offseason move in years.
Boston shipped a haul of top prospects to the MLB-worst White Sox in exchange for the lefty flamethrower and Red Sox fans were thrilled about a big move from the team. Such a huge trade had been a long time coming.
The Red Sox dished Kyle Teel (No. 4), Braden Montgomery (No. 5), Chase Meidroth (No. 11) and Wikelman Gonzalez (No. 14) to Chicago to net Crochet. All four players ranked in Boston's top 15 prospects, but Teel and Montgomery also hold spots on MLB Pipeline's top 100. The Red Sox had so many elite prospects thanks to former chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom.
It has to be said that Montgomery was drafted by current CBO Craig Breslow in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. He's been described as "a steal" at the 12th overall pick and served as the second-biggest name in the Crochet trade. The other three prospects were all drafted by Bloom.
Bloom, who now works in the Cardinals front office, served as Boston's CBO from 2019-23, He was hired after he spent 14 years in the Rays organization — one of the smallest markets in baseball — to manage the Red Sox's spending. Quality drafts and improved player development helped Boston slash salaries and bolster its farm system.
The Red Sox were able to trade for Garrett Crochet due to Chaim Bloom's work with the farm system
Bloom drafted the Red Sox's "Big Three" prospects, Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Teel. After Teel's departure, Kristian Campbell, whom Bloom drafted with a compensatory pick, now ranks firmly in the "Big Three" and has even earned "untouchable" status. Gonzalez was one of Boston's best pitching prospects before Breslow took over in the front office and Meidroth was a fourth-round pick with an impeccable eye for the strike zone, but his path to the big leagues was completely blocked with the Red Sox.
The Sox have Bloom to thank for their improved farm system — although plenty of their high draft picks came at the expense of the major league team's success. Breslow's short tenure as CBO has revealed that Bloom was merely a scapegoat for Red Sox principal owner John Henry's new budget plan, which still appears to be in effect despite promises to spend from the front office. Boston hasn't spent a dime since its $700 million offer to Juan Soto was revealed once he signed with the Mets.
The Red Sox's revamped farm system and the eventual Crochet trade are a credit to Bloom's choices as CBO. Breslow drafted Montgomery and actually sealed the deal, but Boston wouldn't have Crochet without three of Bloom's draft picks and the overall stability of the farm system after his departure.
