The Red Sox have officially decided that one Garett in their starting rotation is plenty.
And while both of Boston’s Garretts are worthy of being starters, both are also plenty happy with their roles moving forward.
There was no question that Garrett Crochet would begin the season as a (No. 1) starter. But Garrett Whitlock’s situation remained up in the air before he and the team cleared it at Fenway Fest on Saturday.
“Let’s go back to the bullpen, baby,” said Whitlock, who added that this season’s goal is for him to “focus on staying healthy.”
Ultimately, the bullpen is where Whitlock belongs on this team. His injury situation over the past few seasons has taken away any doubt about that. Yet what there’s also no doubt about is the fact that the 28-year-old right-hander still has the potential to be Boston’s best bullpen arm.
A healthy, willing and able Whitlock can be a strong asset for this Sox team. We’ve talked a lot about Boston’s lack of relief depth — and moves to address it — this offseason, and that’s often come at the expense of neglecting Whitlock.
If Whitlock can achieve his health goals for 2025, there’s a good chance Whitlock will be able to reclaim his status as Boston’s reliever extraordinaire.
Crochet extension
As one Garrett settles into his new (old) role, the other is preparing to step into a new one entirely.
No, Garrett Crochet won’t be a first-time ace when he takes the mound for the first time as a Red Sox this season — but he will be a first-time ace for the Boston Red Sox.
“That was kind of something I was doing with the White Sox this past season, so it won’t be unfamiliar territory for me,” Crochet told reporters on Saturday.
That’s quite the step up from his prior status as the ace of the Chicago White Sox, and with it should — and will — come a significant pay raise.
For that, Crochet is ready.
“Staying in Boston long-term is something that has a lot of merit in my mind and something that, I think that would be awesome,” Crochet said.
The good news is, it’s no longer just a pipe dream for him and Red Sox fans. Crochet confirmed that he and Boston’s brass have entered into negotiations over his next contract.
“There have been just, conversations with my agent and the front office, just kind of getting a feel for one another,” said Crochet.
Crochet insists he is focused on the field and not what’s taking place off of it, even going as far as to say “that’s why players have agents.” It’s a fair and healthy perspective, but he’s still human — it has to cross his mind sometimes.
And the longer his uncertain future lingers, the more potential there is for it to become an issue that does creep onto the field.
It’s in everybody’s best interest to get a deal done, and soon.
Casas keeps his cool
Triston Casas is also human, and no one would be surprised if this offseason’s trade rumors went to his head.
But the young slugging first baseman insists that he isn’t focused on the fact that he could have nearly been traded to Seattle.
Or, perhaps he’s simply buying the Kool-Aid that the Sox brass is selling…
“They’ve told me that none of the rumors are true,” Casas said via NESN. “Maybe all that other stuff is clickbait.”
Casas added: “I try not to get too caught up in it” and “I feel like that’s part of the business of baseball is checking in on players, seeing what kind of value you get back.”
He’s also putting a positive spin on the Mariners’ interest, adding that “I think checking in and other teams asking about me, I see it as a positive.”
Casas concluded, “I love Boston. I love everything about it.”
All told, Casas’ is a very mature response and the right way to go about handling rumors that your employer might be OK with cutting you loose.
I have no reason to believe that Casas truly feels otherwise, but back to that whole human nature thing… the more this happens, the more it’s going to erode at any sense of loyalty he might have for the organization.
Now that the Casas dust is settled (for this offseason, anyway), I’m sure his focus will be like that of Garrett Crochet: on the field. Because the better any player performs on the field, that’s only going to drive up your value.
It’s anyone’s best guess as to whether or not the Sox really believe in Casas, but a strong 2025 season for him would advance the cause for all involved…
It’s arbitrary
Crochet, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford are back in the fold.
Jarren Duran? To be determined…
The aforementioned trio agreed to one-year deals with the Sox in avoidance of arbitration. Crochet, who we already know is in line for a much greater payday, will receive $3.8 million for next season. Houck will take home $3.95 million and Crawford $2.75 million.
For all three, those are great deals in a vacuum. That Houck is making a tick more than Crochet is a little surprising to me, but largely irrelevant. Houck is three years older, after all. And a sub-$3 million deal for a starting-caliber pitcher who will probably transition to the bullpen when everybody is healthy is not too shabby.
As for Duran, there’s been no deal to be had — yet. That doesn’t entirely surprise me. Duran is coming off a career year and a prime candidate for long-term extension somewhere, if not in Boston.
Something will get done, but unlike the others, it’s going to take a little more time.
Nobody seems to be a fan of that within the organization, least of all Sam Kennedy.
“I don’t like arbitration. That’s why I’m not involved in it. It’s a better question for (Craig Breslow),” Kennedy told reporters on Saturday. “It’s a necessary evil I guess is how our industry works.”
Therein lies part of the problem, Sam. If you see paying players more than the absolute minimum as a “necessary evil,” well… players aren’t exactly going to want to return the favor in a team-friendly way.
Kennedy went on to say that he was confident that the team “will get to a conclusion one way or there other.” That’s… a bit of a murky response. Most likely, that conclusion will be the uneventful return of Duran to Boston for next season. But who knows? Maybe this opens the door for something else…
