White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet is unfazed by trade speculation: 'My job is to control what I can control'

CHICAGO (670 The Score) – Trade speculation is swirling around the White Sox already, even as the deadline remains seven weeks away.

White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet and center fielder Luis Robert Jr. – the team’s best pitcher and best position player – have landed in trade rumors as the organization continues to weigh how to best build for its future while holding an MLB-worst 17-49 record entering play Monday.

The 24-year-old Crochet’s situation is complicated. He has been a superb performer this season, posting a 3.33 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in 14 starts while striking out an MLB-high 12.3 batters per nine innings. Crochet is earning just $800,000 this season and has two years of salary arbitration remaining before becoming a free agent ahead of the 2027 season.

The looming factor that will complicate any potential Crochet trade is his workload, which MLB teams must be cognizant of. His 75 2/3 innings in 2024 are more than he had tallied in his entire MLB career entering this season. Crochet missed the entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, and he only pitched a combined 25 innings in 2023 in the minor leagues and for the big league White Sox.

“I am not sure how we can quantify his impact on our club right now and what to give up for him,” a National League talent evaluator said while acknowledging Crochet might need to be shut down later this season.

For his part, Crochet isn’t letting the trade rumors distract him.

“The way I look at it is that teams have taken notice just because I have been throwing the ball well all year,” Crochet told 670 The Score. “I just have to keep doing that. My focus is to give the White Sox a chance to win a game every fifth day when I pitch. Other than how I prepare and pitch, I can't control what's being said or rumors.”

Crochet was then asked about the human element of the impact that trade speculation can have on a player.

"I do my best not to factor in the human element of what I do until the offseason,” Crochet said. “I know what is out there, but I do not pay attention to it. Right now, I am going through my routine between starts and not worried about the semantics of all that stuff. I am just doing my thing each day.

“Look, my job is to control what I can control. It's like coming out of games – I go out and throw it until they take the ball out of my hands. After that mindset, I know I have done everything I can on my side. That's about it for me, keeping things in order on my end.”

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine .