The New York Mets finished two wins away from the World Series in 2024. A lot of that unexpected success can be attributed to how well the starting rotation performed in the second half. With Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana and Luis Severino all hitting free agency, president of baseball operations David Stearns has work to do. Could he swing a deal with the Chicago White Sox for All-Star ace Garrett Crochet?
FanGraphs' Roster Resource has the Mets' current rotation including Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Paul Blackburn, Tylor Megill and José Buttó. Whether it's injury, lack of innings, or an inconsistent track record, each of these hurlers has questions attached to them heading into 2025. That's likely part of the reason why Stearns is intent on adding more than one starting pitcher this winter.
New York has been linked to several top free-agent hurlers to begin the offseason. However, there are also intriguing names available via the trade market. Crochet is at the top of this list after posting a 3.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 209 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched.
What could a potential trade for the southpaw look like? FanSided's Josue De Jesus created the following five-player swap:
- Mets receive: left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet
- White Sox receive: infielder/outfielder Jett Williams, outfielder Ryan Clifford, catcher Kevin Parada and right-handed pitcher Blade Tidwell
The Mets are sending quite a bit of talent to the Windy City in this scenario. MLB.com ranks all four of these players within the organization's top 25 prospects. Williams finished 2024 as New York's second-best prospect while Clifford was fourth, Tidwell was eighth and Parada was 25th. The White Sox have some leverage in potential negotiations, though.
Crochet's market value for a long-term deal is six years and $130 million, per Spotrac. However, he hasn't signed an extension yet and there's no rush for the organization to trade him because of his current situation. Crochet is estimated to earn just $2.9 million in 2025 and is under team control through 2026.
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