The Red Sox are running out of time to extend Garrett Crochet before his self-imposed deadline kicks in. With Opening Day less than a week away, Boston’s window to lock up their prized offseason acquisition is rapidly closing.
It’s a bit puzzling that no deal has materialized yet. The Red Sox paid a hefty price of four top prospects to land Crochet from the White Sox in December, and he’s been absolutely dominant this spring. The 25-year-old lefty has racked up an eye-popping 30 strikeouts in just 15.2 innings while posting a microscopic 0.57 ERA in Grapefruit League action.
Crochet has been clear about his stance: once the season starts, extension talks are off the table. That deadline is now looming large.
According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive, the sides aren’t close to an agreement. “A source with knowledge of the talks told MassLive late Friday that a Crochet extension is less than likely before he starts for the Red Sox on Opening Day (Thursday),” Cotillo reported. “There is believed to be a large gap between the sides at present.”
Crochet himself seemed to acknowledge the situation after his final spring start against Pittsburgh. “I think that right now, we’re just looking forward to getting through the season,” he said.
The timing puts Boston in a tricky spot. Crochet was an All-Star in 2023, posting a 3.58 ERA across 146 innings in what was his first full season as a starter. His spring dominance suggests he might be ready to take another step forward.
That’s what makes this situation particularly interesting for the Red Sox. If Crochet continues his upward trajectory during the regular season, his price tag will only increase. The front office must weigh the risk of waiting against the potential cost of committing big money to a pitcher with a relatively limited track record as a starter.
For now, both sides seem content to let Crochet’s performance do the talking once the games start counting.
