On Wednesday, the Boston Red Sox made a notable move by acquiring All-Star left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for four of their top prospects. The prospects heading to Chicago include catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez, and outfielder Braden Montgomery. The trade was officially announced by the White Sox.

Crochet, 25, had a challenging but promising 2023 season, finishing with a 6-12 record and a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts for a White Sox team that endured a historically tough season, posting a 41-121 record—the most losses by any team since 1900. Despite the team’s struggles, Crochet’s individual performance stood out, as he was named an American League All-Star in his first year as a starting pitcher. His selection to the All-Star game came after a career setback, as he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022, missing much of that season and returning to the big leagues only in May 2023.

Originally drafted 11th overall by Chicago in the 2020 MLB Draft, Crochet made his major league debut in September of that year. He impressed in his early years, posting a 2.82 ERA in 2021 while striking out 65 batters in 54 1/3 innings. His recovery from surgery was marked by his strong stuff in 2023, as his sinker averaged 97.9 mph and his four-seam fastball came in at 97.2 mph. Crochet also offers a cutter, a sweeping slider, and a changeup as part of his repertoire.

Crochet is under contract for $800,000 this year and is eligible for arbitration in both the upcoming offseason and the next. He will be a free agent following the 2027 season, assuming he doesn’t sign an extension.

Before acquiring Crochet, the Red Sox’s starting rotation was projected to include Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, and recently acquired Lucas Giolito. As for the prospects Boston sent to Chicago, Teel is ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Red Sox system by MLB.com, while Meidroth is 11th, Gonzalez is 14th, and Montgomery is ranked 54th. The trade signals the Red Sox’s commitment to bolstering their pitching staff for the future while parting with key pieces of their minor league talent pool.