The Boston Red Sox are playing winning baseball again, but are doing so without arguably their best player.
Garrett Crochet has been on the injured list since April and is nearing 120 days on the injured list. That number is significant because it would give the team a club option worth $15 million for 2032. Obviously, the team would rather have Crochet back sooner rather than later, but it is an interesting part of this whole situation.
“It sucks, but I mean, what’s the worst thing that happens? I’m in Boston for another year? Which is pretty good. This is a place that I wanted to be,” Crochet said, per the Boston Globe's Tim Healey. “That was a clause that was kind of helping the team mitigate the risk, I suppose. And they knew that there was risk. I knew that there was risk. Last year, it’s like, am I outperforming [his salary]? Or does it matter? And now I get hurt, and it’s like, I’m glad that I secured the protection.
“What I felt when I signed the contract was that I wanted to outperform the deal. So it sucks, but there’s still time.”
Crochet was the American League Cy Young Award runner-up last season. He had a 2.59 ERA in 32 starts and led the AL in innings pitched. He led all of baseball with 255 strikeouts. He was not off to a great start this year, but still, the team would certainly love to have him back and healthy for a potential postseason run.
He is one of the best pitchers in baseball, but when he returns is up in the air. The Red Sox are playing their best baseball right now, and having their ace back would make them even better, assuming he can pitch like he did last year.