MLB Rumors: Troubling Boston Red Sox news on contract talks with young star

The Boston Red Sox operated aggressively this offseason to improve their roster, resulting in the club heading into Opening Day viewed as one of the best teams in baseball. However, it appears efforts to make Garrett Crochet a long-term part of the Red Sox roster aren’t going well.

Crochet, age 25, was traded to Boston in December. The deal featured multiple top Red Sox prospects, including Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery, with the front office finally pushing more of its chips in to contend for the upcoming season. Crochet was particularly expensive to acquire because of his contract.

Garrett Crochet stats (ESPN): 3.58 ERA, 209-33 K-BB, .222 batting average allowed, 1.07 WHIP in 146 innings pitched

An All-Star selection in 2024 and the reigning AL Comeback Player of the Year, Crochet is under team control for two more seasons. He should be the ace of the Red Sox rotation during that stretch and Boston is making an effort to extend him. However, negotiations aren’t yielding great results.

According to Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, Crochet isn’t expected to sign a contract extension before Opening Day with a “large gap” at the negotiating table between the two sides.

Garrett Crochet contract (Spotrac): $3.8 million salary in 2025, arbitration-eligible in 2026

With the salaries for the highest paid MLB players skyrocketing, Crochet has every reason to demand a lucrative contract. Entering 2025, eight different starting pitchers are making at least $27.8 million per season. Crochet could argue he’s worth at least $28 million per year, given New York Yankees starter Carlos Rodön is making $27.833 million.

However, as the Alex Bregman contract shows, Boston prefers short-term deals with significant deferrals that pay out millions of dollars after the contract ends. While that would potentially mean a higher average annual value for Crochet, it doesn’t offer long-term security.

Fortunately for the Red Sox, they don’t have to rush contract negotiations. Crochet is still under contract for the next two seasons, giving them plenty of time to work out a deal. If he plays up to expectations, it’s reasonable to assume he will eventually receive a new deal from Boston.