The Chicago White Sox had one of the most valuable trade assets going into the trade deadline on July 30. However, they chose to keep Him, who had just made his All-Star appearance two weeks earlier. Alongside his teammates, he struggled through the end of a historically poor season, finishing with 121 losses—the worst in modern MLB history.
Despite this, the White Sox are no closer to being competitive for 2025. Given that, many expected Him to be back on the trade market eventually.
He ended the season with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts, racking up an impressive 209 strikeouts over 146 innings. In his first full year as a major league starter, He ranked among the American League’s Top 5 for strikeouts and games started and finished eighth in pitcher WAR on Baseball Reference. His 2.69 FIP was the third-best among pitchers who threw at least 140 innings.
In June, He also earned the AL Pitcher of the Month honor, yet his season record stood at only 6-12 with the White Sox. General manager Chris Getz, however, appears eager to find a new home for Crochet. According to a rival evaluator at last week’s general manager meetings, “They’re going to trade him this winter. It’s not a matter of if; it’s a question of when,” as reported by ESPN’s Buster Olney.
The offseason and trade deadlines are typically the best times for rebuilding teams to maximize trade returns. Some wondered if Getz might keep Crochet into the 2025 season to see if his value could grow by the next trade deadline, but now, the White Sox’s decision to trade Crochet sooner may please fans and executives alike—particularly those in search of a frontline starter for a lower cost than top free agents.
Recently, Roki Sasaki declared his intention to leave NPB for MLB, although his earning potential will be capped by international signing restrictions. Meanwhile, high-profile free agents like Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell are likely to price out smaller-market teams, making Crochet an appealing alternative for most clubs. It seems a trade could be on the horizon soon.
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