The Boston Red Sox made multiple big splashes this offseason, with the acquisition of All-Star pitcher Garrett Crochet being the club’s biggest acquisition of the offseason. In the months since acquiring Crochet, Boston has been attempting to sign him to a contract extension.
Crochet, age 25, is the ace of the Red Sox rotation. The southpaw started on Opening Day for Boston and is coming off an All-Star campaign in 2024. More importantly for the Red Sox, he is under team control for the next two seasons and makes less than $4 million this year.
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- Garrett Crochet stats 2024 (ESPN): 3.58 ERA, 209-33 K-BB, .222 batting average allowed, 1.07 WHIP in 146 innings pitched
However, the club is hoping that Crochet can be a long-term piece who helps Boston contend for years to come. While the reigning AL Comeback Player of the Year seems open to a multi-year extension, talks between the two sides reportedly went very poorly.
MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post said on Bleacher Report. that the Red Sox gained “no traction” in extension talks with Crochet before Opening Day.
“Crochet extension talks. I can be brief because they were pretty brief. My understanding, that absolutely nooooo traction with the Red Sox and Crochet.”
Jon Heyman on Garrett Crochet contract extension talks with the Boston Red Sox
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- Garrett Crochet contract (Spotrac): $3.8 million salary in 2025, arbitration-eligible in 2026
The sizeable gap at the negotiating table certainly makes sense, especially when factoring in the perspective of both sides. For Crochet, he can argue that he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball coming off a season where he led MLB in strikeout rate. Meanwhile, the Red Sox can argue that Crochet – who has only thrown 60-plus innings once in a major-league season – needs to prove he can stay healthy.
With that said, the salaries for the highest paid MLB players are skyrocketing. If Crochet keeps pitching at his current level, he’ll be the top starter available in MLB free agency following the 2026 season. Considering he’d just be entering his prime years, maximizing his earning power, Crochet’s approach to negotiations with the Red Sox might be proven correct.
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