There are uneven trades, and then there’s the Garrett Crochet deal between the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox in 2024.
In December of that year, the White Sox sent Crochet to the Red Sox for catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, shortstop Chase Meidroth and reliever Wikelman Gonzalez. Crochet then had his best season yet in 2025, tying for second in baseball with 18 wins while finishing sixth with a 2.59 ERA and eighth with a 1.03 WHIP. The 26-year-old also led with 255 strikeouts.
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Red Sox legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez spoke about Crochet’s greatness on Thursday, via MLB.com’s Ian Browne.
“I think he’s probably got better stuff [than I did] when it comes to velo and stamina. He’s very consistent in staying right above 97 and 98 [mph],” he said. “And a beautiful body to look at. You don’t have to worry. He proved to everybody that all he needed was just to get a year under his belt, to get totally healthy, and he’s been able to work his way around everything he needs to do, and he looks relatively fresh every time he pitches. That’s amazing to see.”
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Red Sox Acquired Special Player for Cheap Price
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
(Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
Martinez admitting that Crochet has “better stuff” than he did is one of the highest compliments a current pitcher could receive. Martinez was a three-time Cy Young Award-winner and five-time MLB ERA leader, so he wouldn’t say that about just anybody.
Boston not only got the best player by far in the Crochet trade, but it also gave him a six-year, $170 million contract extension in March 2025. The southpaw was entering his final arbitration year when the trade happened, so the organization didn’t risk him hitting the open market after one season.
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Meanwhile, the jury is still out on the prospects that Chicago received. Teel slashed .273/.375/.411 with eight homers and 35 RBIs over 78 games last season, Meidroth slashed .253/.329/.320 over 122 contests, and Gonzalez notched a 2.66 ERA over 16 outings. Conversely, Montgomery rose from Single-A to Double-A and is a non-roster invitee at spring training this year.
Any of those players could turn into stars, but until they do, the Red Sox are the clear winners of the deal. Prospects are question marks, while Crochet is a safe bet to be Boston’s ace for the next few years.
The trade was understandable from the White Sox’s perspective, as they needed to get something back for the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder before he likely walked in free agency the following year. Flipping him for rebuilding assets was the appropriate move, but it’s hard to guarantee equal value in return when dealing one of the best players in the sport.
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The Red Sox swooped in and got Crochet for a bargain, which reflects well on their front office.
Related: Cedanne Rafaela’s Ranking in ESPN List Shows Result of Red Sox’s Rafael Devers Trade
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.