Trade Deadline Curveball: Garrett Crochet's Contract Extension Demand Throws White Sox into Uncertainty

Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet is considered the best pitcher on the trade market should the Detroit Tigers decide to retain Cy Young candidate Tarik Skubal. Prognosticators were previously confident that the White Sox would sell their star pitcher at the trade deadline since the big lefty has been remarkable as a first-year starter after two injury-plagued seasons.

However, the trade waters regarding the All-Star have recently become murkier, according to a recent report by ESPN's Jesse Rogers . According to sources, Crochet is determined to remain in a starting role for the rest of the year. He's even open to pitching in the playoffs, but there's a catch — he'll only do so with a contract extension. Rogers clarified that Crochet's representatives are not making direct contact with teams.

Cloudy

The new stipulation throws a curveball into the aspects of an already complicated situation . Garrett Crochet, a starter out of college, tossed a total of 12.2 innings in the previous two years. Tommy John surgery ended his 2022 season prematurely and shoulder trouble abbreviated his 2023 return.

He's pitched 111.1 frames this year, surpassing his career total of 73 innings. Chicago plans to throttle down his workload and has begun that process by limiting him to four and two innings, respectively, in his last two starts . None of this is an issue for the White Sox, who have a realistic chance of producing the worst record in baseball history.

The trade calculus becomes challenging with Crochet's injuries, lack of track record in starting pitching, and a potential need for a contract extension. Those factors are in addition to the steep cost of prospect capital the White Sox will demand.

Risk and Reward

In the offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers ran into a similar situation when they acquired starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite Glasnow's injury history, the Dodgers made the trade and handed him a five-year, $136.5 million extension .

However, the circumstances were much different as the righty has an accomplished track record and Los Angeles is in win-now mode.

What's On Tap Next?

There are numerous hurdles to clear before a Garrett Crochet trade comes to fruition. His desire to remain in a starting rotation and the potential need for an extension raises the risk of his acquisition. The White Sox ace is in uncharted territory regarding his innings total, and past injuries hinder his value for Chicago.

Crochet seems destined for stardom, barring health issues, and at a very affordable rate . He's under team control and arbitration-eligible for the next two years. His value will be enormous when he demonstrates the ability to pitch an entire season's workload as a starting pitcher without any injury setbacks.

In that case, the mitigated risks give Chris Getz and Co. a better hand in negotiations this offseason. Therefore, it's more likely the White Sox deal Crochet this winter instead of in the coming days.

Related: Measuring Garrett Crochet's Trade Value: Complex Factors at Play for White Sox, Suitors

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