Hooking Crochet? 12/8 update: Rumors of Red Sox "just on the periphery," "not aggressors at all" at this point.

[koufax32]

Maybe this is better suited for a different thread, but I wonder if part of the RS apparent reticence in paying top dollar for SP’s includes the fact that they have been having less and less influence on the game as time has gone on. Like you wouldn’t expect a football team to pay top dollar for a cornerback that only plays 70% compared to 99% of the defensive snaps, right?

That said, the drop from 200 innings per season to 170 is only a decrease in percentage of a team’s innings from about 13% to a around 11%, so that may be ascribing more importance than is necessary. It also would just be another factor added to the health and performance concerns for pitchers over 30, so hypothesizing about this might just be an exercise in futility. It’s something that I’ve been chewing on though.

 

[simplicio]

Kaleb Ort averaged about 25 innings 2022-2023, so maybe it's less useful to think of it in terms of a 2% difference in innings percentage and more like 1.2 Orts/yr.

 

[koufax32]

Kaleb Ort averaged about 25 innings 2022-2023, so maybe it's less useful to think of it in terms of a 2% difference in innings percentage and more like 1.2 Orts/yr.

Oh man…yep, never mind. Not seeing him again is worth at least $30m/year.

 

[RedOctober3829]

DALLAS – After engaging in a spirited bidding war for prized free agent Juan Soto, the New York Mets and New York Yankeesare among the teams vying for the best starting pitcher available via trade, Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet, sources briefed on the talks say.
The Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Soxare among the other teams interested in Crochet, but the Mets and Yankees were the most aggressive suitors as of Monday, according to two sources briefed on the White Sox’s discussions. No deal with any club was considered close.

The Red Sox, in dire need of a left-handed starter, appear an ideal fit for Crochet. But while their farm system is bursting with the kind of young position players the White Sox covet, Boston seems more focused on other pursuits, sources said.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5983024/2024/12/09/garrett-crochet-white-sox-trade-mets-yankees/

 

[DeadlySplitter]

Either the Sox aren't sold on Crochet after all, the White Sox are so incompetent they ask for Roman Anthony but not other megahigh prospects from other teams... or I don't know what else makes sense

It's also still silly season where "how interested" and "aggressive" a team is can be easily misstated, so I'm not fully taking this as truth (although Cotillo is backing this up heavily).

If the Sox get Fried and the Yankees Crochet, I can live with that tradeoff I think

 

[Yo La Tengo]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5983024/2024/12/09/garrett-crochet-white-sox-trade-mets-yankees/

I have some doubt that the NYY are going to send a whole bunch of top level prospects to Chicago:

1. They have Cole, Rodon, Gil, Schmidt, Cortes and Stroman lined up for the rotation
2. They have traded away a ton of young players over the last few years and likely would feel some hesitancy making a huge move with Crochet not yet extended, after getting burned in the Soto mania
3. They need one or more OFs, a 2B or 3B, and a 1B, which is where I expect Cashman's attention will be focused

 

[RS2004foreever]

I have some doubt that the NYY are going to send a whole bunch of top level prospects to Chicago:

1. They have Cole, Rodon, Gil, Schmidt, Cortes and Stroman lined up for the rotation
2. They have traded away a ton of young players over the last few years and likely would feel some hesitancy making a huge move with Crochet not yet extended, after getting burned in the Soto mania
3. They need one or more OFs, a 2B or 3B, and a 1B, which is where I expect Cashman's attention will be focused

I agree - and yet I read they are also after Burnes/Fried too.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I agree - and yet I read they are also after Burnes/Fried too.

Bear in mind that those players can only benefit from having the Yankees attached to them. The more in demand they appear, the more leverage they can gain in negotiating their contract, and if the "interest" is coming from teams with big payrolls that's all the better. Doesn't even matter how good the fit might be of if the team even has room on the roster for them.

 

[burstnbloom]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5983024/2024/12/09/garrett-crochet-white-sox-trade-mets-yankees/

The Sox can easily beat these suitors for Crochet if they want him. The Crochet trade scuttlebutt feels like a scenario where there is a lot of questionable reporting when it comes to the package. I think he will end up moving for something different than what we've been discussing.

 

[dynomite]

The Sox can easily beat these suitors for Crochet if they want him. The Crochet trade scuttlebutt feels like a scenario where there is a lot of questionable reporting when it comes to the package. I think he will end up moving for something different than what we've been discussing.

Completely agree. This feels like the inverse of the Soto sweepstakes, where the Red Sox always felt a bit like a stalking horse compared to the Mets and Yankees.

For Crochet, we're the team with the a) glaring need in our rotation for an "ace,"/top of the rotation arm and b) glut of tradeable position player prospects.

I have some doubt that the NYY are going to send a whole bunch of top level prospects to Chicago:

1. They have Cole, Rodon, Gil, Schmidt, Cortes and Stroman lined up for the rotation
2. They have traded away a ton of young players over the last few years and likely would feel some hesitancy making a huge move with Crochet not yet extended, after getting burned in the Soto mania
3. They need one or more OFs, a 2B or 3B, and a 1B, which is where I expect Cashman's attention will be focused

This is a very good summary. I don't think the Yankees are a serious contender for Crochet.

On the other hand, I'm surprised the Orioles aren't mentioned in that Athletic roundup. They have a more urgent need for a top of the rotation arm and are one of the only teams in MLB with arguably more high-level position player prospect depth than the Red Sox.