Hot Stove: Phillies reportedly ‘aggressive’ on pursuing Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet

According to reports, the Philadelphia Phillies are aggressively pursuing Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet to add to their already-stacked starting rotation.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Phillies and the Dodgers are leading the charge for Crochet, who’s quickly become the most sought-after player on the trade market after the White Sox put him up for grabs. After a brutal season that saw them lose 121 games, Chicago is looking to reshape its future—and moving Crochet could be a key piece of that puzzle.

“No already-employed player was sought after more at these GM meetings than Chicago White Sox starter Garrett Crochet, who struck out 209 batters in 146 innings and earned only $800,000 last season. The White Sox have openly told teams he’s available and are expected to trade him by the end of the winter meetings, with the Philadelphia Phillies and Dodgers the most aggressive.” [USA Today]

The Phillies have been interested in Crochet for a while, reportedly flirting with the idea of a trade this past summer. If you recall, Dave Dombrowski wasn’t willing to part with their top prospect, Andrew Painter, to make it happen.

Per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, the Phillies are open to dealing nearly any prospect but Painter, so they’ve got room to maneuver and now, with the White Sox prioritizing position players over pitching prospects, Philly has more options to craft a trade package without putting Painter on the block.

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The Phillies’ farm system has some appealing talent, with position players like infielder Aidan Miller, catcher Eduardo Tait, outfielder Justin Crawford, and shortstop Starlyn Caba.

If those names aren’t quite enough to catch Chicago’s eye, the Phillies might need to consider a current MLB player who’s still under team control.

Names like Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, and Bryson Stott come to mind. The White Sox, in full rebuild mode, might be enticed by a young, controllable position player combined with a couple of top prospects but of course, there will be plenty of questions on if the Phillies really need another front-line starter.

Their rotation already boasts Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, and Aaron Nola—arguably one of the more reliable groups in the league. And it’s true that the outfield or bullpen might be more pressing needs.

However, Garrett Crochet is the kind of young talent that’s hard to pass up. Coming off his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, Crochet posted a 3.58 ERA over 146 innings with 209 strikeouts. At just 25 and with two arbitration years left, he’d bring a potent mix of skill and control to the rotation.

8 minutes of Garrett Crochet strikeouts:

8 minutes of Garrett Crochet strikeouts for your viewing pleasure.

He had the highest K/9 of any starting pitcher with at least 140 innings pitched at 12.9. Only a 2.0 BB/9 as well.

Only starter better? Chris Sale at 11.4. pic.twitter.com/rhOxGBsbRf

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) November 6, 2024

Adding Garrett Crochet could also open up some strategic options. Philly could consider moving Suárez, who’s been solid but is entering a contract year, to address other roster needs. There are plenty of moving pieces, but that’s what makes the offseason so exciting—especially when a team like the Phillies is willing to swing big.

Philly is clearly serious about landing Garrett Crochet, and they’ve shown time and again they’re not afraid to make bold moves to bolster their roster. If they pull this off, it could be a defining addition to their rotation and a signal that they’re all-in on building a championship contender.

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