The White Sox offseason is expected to remain relatively quiet now that the club has finally found a trade partner for their former ace Garrett Crochet. But more details about the negotiations are starting to be released.
The White Sox got a nice return for Crochet, netting four prospects from the Boston Red Sox, including two in the MLB’s top 100. The Red Sox were reportedly interested in the hard-throwing left-hander as early as last winter. At the time they were interested in adding him as a reliever, given Crochet’s career 2.71 ERA in 73 innings out of the White Sox bullpen. However, after posting strong numbers as a starter more teams became interested which jacked up his asking price.
After inking free agent shortstop Willy Adames to a seven-year- $182 million deal in early December, the San Fransico Giants offseason has also remained quiet. However, according to The Atheltic’s Andrew Baggarly, the Giants were also one of the teams who spoke with the White Sox about acquiring Garrett Crochet. Trade talks even got to the point where the Giants said they were “a bit uncomfortable with the players they were willing to sacrifice.”
Their top prospect, Bryce Eldridge, was a prerequisite for the White Sox in any deal involving Crochet. That was deemed a price too steep for the Giants who have the 23rd-ranked farm system in baseball.
Eldridge is a left-handed hitting first baseman who is ranked the 35th prospect in the MLB. In 649 minor league plate appearances, the 20-year-old has already hit 29 homers while slashing .292/.379/.514 and driving in 110 RBIs. He would have fit the White Sox’s need to acquire an outfielder and Getz’s desire to acquire position players in return for Crochet. However, Eldridge is already knocking on the door for a call-up in Triple-A. With LaMonte Wade Jr. set to hit free agency next offseason, Eldrige is in line to be the Giant’s future first baseman.
The Giants also could have offered outfielder James Tibbs III, a 22-year-old in High-A ball who is ranked the 88th prospect in baseball. But without Eldridge in the package, it would have been hard to justify a deal for Crochet centered around Tibbs.
