Insider: "100% Chance" of Crochet Trade: Top 3 Landing Spots

Garrett Crochet made it through a full major league season for the first time in 2024, and proved that he was able to maintain his ace-level pitching throughout, and stay healthy.

The rebuilding Chicago White Sox, however, were looking to trade him at the deadline, until Crochet came out and pretty much destroyed the ChiSox negotiating position by saying that he would only pitch into October with any acquiring team if they signed him to an extension.

When asked on MLB Network Radio Tuesday morning what the chances are of Crochet getting dealt this winter, ESPN insider Buster Olney was frank and direct in his answer:

100%. I've had executives say to me, flat out, 'He's gonna go.'

According to Olney, these are the top three teams that will be vying for a Crochet trade with the Pale Hose.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves will be losing Max Fried in free agency this winter, it appears, so replacing him with Crochet would be a fit. They tried to land him at the 2024 trade deadline. "I feel like the Braves, who've made a lot of trades out of their farm system in recent years, they have reason to get him and they want to get him," said Olney.

Philadelphia Phillies

GM Dave Dombrowski is known for "building super rotations", per Olney. And they were close to landing Crochet at the trade deadline, had they been willing to give up their top pitching prospect Andrew Painter. With Ranger Suarez entering his walk year, they could move on from him, and then go with a Zach Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Garret Crochet, Christopher Sanchez rotation. "That makes a lot of sense," said Olney.

Boston Red Sox

They match up well with the White Sox, says the insider, as Chicago's preference is to receive back position players in return, and Boston has those assets to put in a package.

Crochet finished with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP with a spectacular 209:33 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 146 innings.