The Chicago White Sox are facing a tough season, having secured a losing record and looking at the possibility of breaking an unwanted major league record.
One missed opportunity to turn things around for 2025 was the decision not to trade starting pitcher Garrett Crochet ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
At just 25, Crochet has been impressive in his inaugural year as a starter, posting a 6-8 record with a solid 3.19 ERA, while leading the American League with 162 strikeouts in 118.1 innings. He’s also tops in the AL for starts (23) and Fielding Independent Pitching (2.64), showcasing his skill during an otherwise challenging season for the team.
So, what stopped the White Sox from trading him?
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Jon Heyman from the New York Post noted that Crochet preferred to stay a starter for the remainder of this season, stating he would only participate in the postseason if an extension was guaranteed as part of a trade.
This situation prompted White Sox general manager Chris Getz to publicly criticize Crochet, implying that his demands may have diminished his trade value.
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However, Crochet later addressed the situation. Despite the opportunity to clarify before the deadline, he opted for silence until Wednesday, when he chose to employ humor to render criticism harmless.
“As baseball players, we’re in the spotlight; even a small mistake can lead to people talking,” Crochet joked with reporters, as seen in the Chicago Sun-Times.
The Sun-Times also cited Getz stating that there was “strong interest” in Crochet, but his demands might have cooled off that interest enough to stop a trade from happening.
Getz commented on the situation, saying it was “hard to determine” if Crochet’s requests influenced the interest from other teams, according to the Sun-Times.
Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
As the season winds down, maintaining a light-hearted perspective will be crucial for the White Sox, especially with the burden of a 19-game losing streak looming over them. They are on track to potentially set a record for the most losses in a single season.
With only Crochet and starting pitcher Erick Fedde contributing over 4 Wins Above Replacement this season, and with Fedde now traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, White Sox fans have little optimism moving forward when Crochet isn’t on the mound.
In the near term, however, retaining Crochet may give fans something to cheer for during his starts.