As the MLB trade deadline approached on July 30, Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet was one of the most talked-about players in trade rumors. Despite the buzz, he wasn’t traded, meaning any interested teams will have to wait until the offseason to pursue him. The Los Angeles Dodgers, who reportedly made an offer for Crochet according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, might renew their efforts to acquire him this winter.
With that in mind, here’s a potential trade proposal that could tempt White Sox general manager Chris Getz:
**Dodgers receive:** Starting pitcher Garrett Crochet
**White Sox receive:** Catcher/outfielder Dalton Rushing, outfielder Zyhir Hope, right-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris, and left-handed pitcher Justin Wrobleski.
This trade would land Chicago four of the Dodgers’ top 11 prospects, including Wrobleski, who could join their rotation in 2025. The package is comparable to what the White Sox received when they traded Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres. Crochet, who has a 6-9 record with a 3.61 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and 176 strikeouts over 124.2 innings this season, is under team control through 2026 and is making $800,000 in 2024, according to Spotrac.
There’s Still Plenty of Trade Interest in Garrett Crochet
Although Garrett Crochet wasn’t traded, he’ll still be in high demand this winter. Bob Nightengale of USA Today highlighted this in a report on August 18.
“Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet, who had struggled since the All-Star break (0-3, 8.78 ERA) until his last start Friday, is drawing significant interest from teams scouting him for a possible winter trade,” Nightengale noted. “Crochet delivered a standout performance on Friday, striking out nine batters over four innings and throwing 43 of his 55 pitches for strikes. The White Sox still plan to trade Crochet in the offseason and are also looking to move center fielder Luis Robert Jr., who hit two home runs on Friday after a 5-for-46 slump.”
One major obstacle to a deal before the deadline was Crochet’s additional demands. He wanted a contract extension to pitch in the 2024 postseason and was unwilling to pitch out of the bullpen.
Crochet made his debut with Chicago in 2020 but hasn’t pitched more than 54.1 innings in a season between 2020 and 2023. Injuries also limited him to just 12.2 innings over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. His current salary is slightly above the league minimum, so he appears to be seeking financial security as he surpasses his single-season career-high innings total.
His desire for an extension isn’t likely to disappear, but his leverage will be weaker in the offseason compared to before the trade deadline. Nevertheless, it’s likely he’ll still push for it.
The Dodgers Were Among the Midseason Finalists to Acquire Crochet
Despite Crochet’s demands, the Dodgers were among the teams actively pursuing him in July.
“Within the final 24 hours leading up to the trade deadline, both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies made offers for Crochet that the Chicago White Sox found appealing, according to sources familiar with the discussions,” Rosenthal reported on August 16. “Even in the final hour, the Dodgers were still negotiating with the White Sox about a possible deal.”
Rosenthal also noted that Rushing was not part of the Dodgers’ offer. Instead, they included top pitching prospect River Ryan, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery. When this pursuit fell through, the Dodgers turned their attention to acquiring Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers.
If Crochet doesn’t sign a contract extension this offseason, any team that acquires him could potentially get a bargain based on his 2024 performance. Tim Britton of The Athletic estimated his arbitration earnings over the next two seasons to be between $10 and $15 million.
Those are figures every MLB team could manage. However, if Crochet continues to seek an extension, the Dodgers have the combination of prospects and financial resources to make a deal happen.
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