MLB Winter Meetings Notes: Why trading Garrett Crochet was a necessary first step for the Red Sox

DALLAS – From Henry Owens to Blake Swihart, from Michael Chavis to Bobby Dalbec, the Boston Red Sox prospects are routinely overrated. Just ask the Chicago White Sox how things went the last time they traded a star pitcher to the Red Sox for four highly touted minor league players.

Chris Sale’s return in December 2016 was third baseman Yoán Moncada, whose career has largely been a disappointment; pitcher Michael Kopech, who also has yet to make an All-Star team; outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe, who appeared in only nine major league games; and pitcher Victor Diaz, who never reached the majors.

While the Red Sox and some of their fans may be upset that the White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet’s prize was four of their top 14 prospects, what else should the Red Sox do, according to MLB Pipeline?

Red Sox owner John Henry, after inking nine-figure contracts for Sale and David Price, is hesitant to hand out long-term contracts to pitchers, according to sources briefed on his deliberations. Perhaps his hesitation will impact an extension for Crochet, who will be under the club’s control for two more seasons. But the Red Sox are so rich in young talent that they can’t possibly fit all of their talent onto future 26-man rosters. So for them, trading Crochet on Wednesday was a move that made perfect sense.

Crochet, 25, expects to make between $10 million and $15 million in his final two years as an umpire, so the Red Sox are at least primed for a big free agent signing. According to a source briefed on their discussions, their focus remains on pitching.

Free-agent right-hander Corbin Burnes is likely to sign a deal worth more than $200 million, likely beyond Henry’s comfort level. But free agent left-hander Sean Manaea and right-hander Jack Flaherty remain available, as does right-hander Nick Pivetta, who declined the Sox’ qualifying offer. A trade for Seattle Mariners right guard Luis Castillo, who is due $68.25 million over the next three years, could be another option. Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that even after adding Crochet, the Red Sox were talking to the Mariners about pitching.

Free agent third baseman Alex Bregman doesn’t appear to be a priority. If the Sox want a third baseman, they might be able to trade for Nolan Arenado from the St. Louis Cardinals, a right-hander who might be willing to waive his no-trade clause to target the Green Monster and himself to reunite with his ex, Colorado Rockies teammate Trevor Story. Or perhaps they address their need by adding a right-handed batting outfielder like Teoscar Hernández or switch-hitter Anthony Santander.

Crocheting was a necessary first step. Now the Red Sox can figure out the rest.

And about the White Sox…

Every trade for interested parties is a risk. Skepticism about the Red Sox’s “next big things” is warranted. Still, the industry’s initial reaction to the White Sox’s four-player deal for Crochet appeared to be positive. Certainly more positive than the reaction to their returns for Kopech, right winger Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham in a three-team deal at the deadline – outfielder Miguel Vargas and minor league infielders Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus.

Catcher Kyle Teel, one of Boston’s Big Four prospects, was the headliner. Left-handed hitters don’t come along often. Teel, 22, is regularly praised for his makeup and athleticism. Working with new White Sox bench coach Walker McKinven, who earned a reputation as a catcher with the Milwaukee Brewers, should help Teel hone his game-winning and other defensive skills.

Outfielder Braden Montgomery, the 12th pick in the 2024 draft, is a high-upside, switch-hitter who one evaluator called a physical freak. Another reviewer said Montgomery was so promising that the Big Four should have been considered the Big Five. Both reviewers were granted anonymity due to their openness.

23-year-old infielder Chase Meidroth is the opposite of Montgomery, a high-floor player who doesn’t exactly look the part at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds. A Red Sox official said Meidroth lacked big tools but was versatile and a coach’s dream. Another said, “Keep an eye on him.” A third said he could remain in the White Sox infield for the next 10 years.

Right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez, the only pitcher in the deal, led the Minors in strikeout rate in 2023 before regressing in ’24, his age-22 season. If everything works out, he could be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter. However, his command issues could ultimately lead him to a late-inning relief.

Explain the Guardians’ mindset

If the Cleveland Guardians’ only trade on Tuesday had been Andrés Giménez’s underwhelming showing to the Toronto Blue Jays, it would have looked like little more than a pay cut. Even after the Guardians’ second deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the motivation to buy out Giménez’s remaining $96.5 million was clear. But when they traded first baseman Spencer Horwitz to the Pirates for right-hander Luis L. Ortiz and two left-handed pitching prospects, the Guardians’ maneuvers made more sense.

Giménez’s salary is $10.6 million this season, but then increases to $15.6 million and then $23.6 million in each of the final three years of his contract. His elite defense at second base alone makes him valuable, but his OPS+ has dropped from 41 percent above average in his breakout 2022 season to 4 percent below and 18 percent below over the past two years.

According to sources briefed on their deliberations, the Guardians feared that Giménez would not be able to trade him after a third consecutive subpar offensive season. Given the usual payroll constraints, they were keen to avoid downside risk.

Club officials are confident that Juan Brito, the Guardians’ No. 8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, can handle a second term. And the path is clear for Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, to take over the position, perhaps even later this season.

Horwitz, who The Athletics Described as “a 27-year-old first baseman with moderate power and blistering bat speed,” Keith Law seemed like an odd return for Giménez and backup Nick Sandlin, even though the Guardians took all of Giménez’s money, including the minors -League outfielder Nick Mitchell was acquired from the Jays.

But for Horwitz, the Guardians acquired Ortiz, a rotation candidate under the club’s control for the next five years, as well as minor league left-handers Michael Kennedy, a fourth-round pick in 1922, and Josh Hartle, a third-rounder in ’24. Given the Guardians’ success in developing pitchers, the trade could ultimately prove to be a bargain.

Or not, depending on whether Giménez rebounds offensively like the Blue Jays expect. The trade eased financial pressure on the Guardians, who previously re-signed free-agent right-hander Shane Bieber to a two-year, $26 million contract. However, sources say they will continue to field offers for first baseman Josh Naylor (expected at $12 million in arbitration) and outfielder Lane Thomas (expected at $8.3 million). Both are free transfers at the end of the season.

It’s not certain whether the Guardians will trade either veteran, but the possibility of a continued exodus is typical of the way they operate. Ideally, they wouldn’t be trade players of Giménez’s caliber, even if their contracts were somewhat inflated. But if the Guardians take such steps, they must at least find a way to improve. That’s what they achieved with the Pittsburgh trade.

The Texas Rangers’ free agent agreements at the meetings – right-hander Nathan Eovaldi for three years, $75 million, reliever Jacob Webb for one year, $1.5 million – clearly show that owner Ray Davis is in his Striving to create a regional sport network for the club is encouraged.

The Rangers, the only team without certainty over their local TV rights for next season, also traded three prospects to the Miami Marlins for four-year infielder Jake Burger and still expect to get more work in, according to sources close to them their bullpen to afford plans.

Before agreeing to Eovaldi, the Rangers even made a move on free-agent left-hander Max Fried, offering him a seven-year, $190 million contract, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The offer was made retrospectively, easing the Rangers’ short-term financial burden, a source said. But Texas’ lack of a state income tax increased the contract’s potential value, forcing the New York Yankees to wait eight years and pay $218 million to sign Fried.

The trade for Burger, meanwhile, fulfilled the Rangers’ desire to improve an offense that fell to 18th in runs last season after ranking third in 2023, the year the team won its first World Series had occupied space. Burger hit .299 with a .645 slugging percentage against four-seam fastballs last season. The Rangers’ .233 batting average against four-seaters was the fourth-lowest in the majors. Her .380 slugging percentage was third lowest.

The 28-year-old Burger was recommended by his former manager in Miami, Skip Schumaker, and his backup coach Luis Urueta. Both joined the Rangers last month, Schumaker as senior advisor and Urueta as reserve coach. Those who know Burger consider him a special person and winning player, and his 63 home runs over the last two seasons rank tied for 15th in the majors.

With Burger gone, outfielder Jesús Sánchez is the Marlins’ biggest returning home run threat after hitting 18 last season. The only other current Marlin to have more than 10 hits was third baseman Jonah Bride, who finished with 11. The only current Marlin to make more than $6 million is right-hander Sandy Alcantara, whose $17.3 million salary makes him a trade candidate, according to the Deadline.

The three prospects the Marlins acquired – infielder Echedry Vargas, infielder Max Acosta and left-hander Brayan Mendoza – ranked 16th, 17th and 29th in the team’s top 30, according to MLB Pipeline. The 22-year-old Acosta is the only player playing above Class A, having spent all of last season in Double A. Vargas is 19. Mendoza is 20.

And finally…

The scouting community is rallying around Jonah Rosenthal, an area scouting supervisor for the Los Angeles Dodgers who suffered a stroke on December 10th. Rosenthal (no relation) is 35.

Left-hander Garrett McDaniels, an undrafted free agent whom Rosenthal signed from Coastal Carolina for $20,000 in 2022, was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the Rule 5 draft on Wednesday.

To support Rosenthal and his family, click here.

(Photo: David Durochik / Diamond Images via Getty Images)