Boston is the best trade partner for the Sox in a Crochet deal.
The Red Sox are rumored to be willing to part with right fielder Wilyer Abreu to get Crochet.
According to @Sean_McAdam, Wilyer Abreu could be moved as part of a Garrett Crochet trade 👀 pic.twitter.com/2J6sFTmDEd
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) November 13, 2024
Ironically as it sounds, he is a bit on the older side of being young at 25, but he finished 2024 with 3.1 fWAR, 114 wRC+, .253/.322/.459 slash line in his first full season in the big leagues. That would be a major upgrade for the Sox lineup.
He is a left-handed bat who hit 15 home runs with a .326 BABIP. He catches practically everything hit to him, with 17 Defensive Runs Saved in right field and seven outs above average.
The White Sox have been trying to replace Jermaine Dye ever since he retired in 2009. Abreu would finally fix that 15-year hole in the lineup.
Also, the BoSox average farm ranking is sixth (MLB has them seventh, Fangraphs and Bleacher Report puts them third, and ESPN rates their system 10th). They have six players in the top 100, and all six of them are hitters. Their top 10 prospects include eight hitters with four of them near the big leagues.
While it is unlikely the Red Sox would trade their two top prospects, Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, they could dangle Abreu, especially if they win the Juan Soto sweepstakes, and say, infielder/outfielder Kristian Campbell or catcher Kyle Teel.
That would immediately inject young impact bats that can ensure the White Sox get back to being competitive by 2027.
Now, some might be afraid of doing business with Boston when it comes to trading another left-handed pitcher the Sox developed into an ace. The Chris Sale trade, in the long run, did not turn out to be as mutually beneficial as previously thought. Remember, Yoan Moncada and Kopech at least did help the Sox win the 2021 AL Central.
Plus, there was no way the White Sox would still have Sale on the team by now, as the team would have never extended him this long.