Wednesday links!
The Chicago White Sox sunk to depths perhaps not seen in the modern era of Major League Baseball during the 2024 season. The lost an astonishing 121 games during the regular season and, as a result, find themselves deep into a multi-year rebuild this offseason.
It’s no surprise then that they’re fielding offers on the few quality pieces still on the roster, of which lefty Garrett Crochet is most certainly one. He tossed 146.0 IP of 3.58 ERA/2.69 FIP ball last year, and did so while fanning 12.9 per 9 IP while commanding an elite 6.33 K/BB ratio, and he’s controllable through the 2026 season. On top of that, he’d struggled with injury and underperformance throughout his pre-2024 career, so his arbitration salaries haven’t even begun to skyrocket – MLB Trade Rumors has him estimated to earn just $2.9 million for the 2025 season.
It’s nice to be deemed worthy of such an acquisition. Jon Morosi of MLB.com thinks the Reds ‘are among the viable candidates to acquire’ Crochet, though it remains to be seen why, exactly, they’d unload the farm for yet another starting pitcher when they’ve got holes all over the rest of the roster.
. @MLB trade market update:
The Cubs and Reds are among the viable candidates to acquire White Sox ace Garrett Crochet.
Of note, the Cubs and White Sox have made 4 trades since 2017, beginning with the José Quintana deal. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 4, 2024
After getting Nick Martinez back on the QO and trading Jonathan India for Brady Singer, the Reds have that pair alongside Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, and Rhett Lowder as rotation options entering 2025, and that’s with Graham Ashcraft, Chase Petty, and Chase Burns all right there, too, depending upon the situation. Crochet would add some elite ability (if he stays healthy again), but it’s hard not to wonder if he’s the right person to add if the prospect coffers aren’t unlimited.
(The prospect coffers aren’t unlimited.)
That brings us to fellow Chicago South Sider Luis Robert, who was perhaps the reason why the Sox lost 121 games instead of just 118. He posted a disappointing 1.4 bWAR campaign last year while battling injuries (just 393 PA), but he’s just a year removed from bashing 38 homers, swiping 20 bags, and posting a 130 OPS+ alongside elite defense in CF. That, I’d argue, is what the Reds really should be shopping for, and Leatherpants of The Athletic seems to agree.
With a trio of years of team control and elite ability to both hit and patrol CF, Robert is a unicorn on the market this winter. It’s going to take a haul for someone to land him because everyone out there wants him. It’s hard to think of a team where he’s not a great fit even though yes, he’s an incredible fit on this Reds roster. Jimbo suggested some combination of Cam Collier, Luke Holman, and Tyson Lewis as a trade package, but all I heard while reading that was ROBERT! ROBERT! ROBERT!
(He’s got the redder Sox landing Crochet in the linked piece, which is merely trades he’d think would be kinda cool.)
Turns out the Reds are actually shopping for outfielders, probably. MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon got some quotes from front office honcho-in-chief Nick Krall on the brink of the Winter Meetings, who confirmed that they have ‘flexibilty’ and ‘haven’t ruled anything out yet’ though the precise acquisition ‘most likely’ will be an ‘outfielder over an infielder.’
ROBERT! ROBERT! ROBERT!
Sheldon went on to suggest five names that aren’t Robert that might be on the Reds radar, one of whom is Paul Goldschmidt. Frankly, I’m not ready for the Reds roster to be the final resting place of a future Hall of Fame 1B who’s past his prime again just yet.
Photo by Aaron Doster/Getty Images
I still remain somewhat convinced that the Reds will instead opt to do something mostly non-committal like trade Hector Rodriguez to Baltimore for one year of Cedric Mullins and call it a day. I am more than ready to be rendered incorrect in my level of expectations, however.