Red Soxs Garrett Crochet opens up on demand that led to greedy accusations

Before Garrett Crochet was traded from the White Sox, he was quite particular in what he wanted from his next organization: a long-term contract extension.It was a lofty request from a pitcher who has only spent one of his four MLB seasons as a starter — and it complicated talks at the trade deadline as he also had an innings limit for the 2024 season.Crochet stuck with the White Sox for the rest of the season but was dealt in December to Boston — and is now projected as their possible Opening Day starter.Crochet recently opened up on what was going on behind the scenes.“I know when it came out a lot of people were looking [at it] as greedy,” Crochet said on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast.“I didn’t, by no means, feel like I was demanding it because I wanted money or security by itself.It was more so in the fact that I was establishing myself as a starter and kind of getting away from the idea that teams viewed me as a potential high-end reliever.”In Crochet’s four seasons with the White Sox, he was used as a reliever and made 54 pitching appearances in 2021 while battling injuries in 2020, 2022 and 2023 with just 18 appearances.Making the leap into the White Sox rotation, Crochet tallied 32 starts last season with a 3.58 ERA.“I was having a good year and I was staying healthy for the first time in my career,” Crochet said.

“In 2020, flexor strain.In ’21 I had the back thing.

“Then I blow out … Now I’m starting on a set routine and I’m feeling good every fifth day and I’m able to go out and perform.Why should I jeopardize that for a team I don’t really owe anything to?”Crochet’s contract will have him under Boston’s control for another two years, as he would enter free agency following the 2026 season barring an extension.“I don’t owe a team I’m not on anything,” Crochet said of his feelings at the time of his trade talks.

“For me, that was the way to protect myself.”While he’s sought a contract e...