The Garrett Crochet trade was a matter of if, not when. It finally happened this afternoon when the White Sox traded him to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for four prospects. Catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and pitcher Wikelman González are coming to the White Sox. It is time to learn more about who the White Sox got back and how they will fit moving forward.
Kyle Teel is a 22-year-old left-handed hitting catcher and is the highest-rated prospect in the package. Ranked as the #25 overall prospect per MLB.com, Teel was an All-American with the University of Virginia and won the ACC Player of The Year award in 2023. He was a first-round pick by Boston the same year and has been climbing the minor leagues ever since. Scouting reports rave about his arm strength behind the plate and his ability to frame pitches. He is also no slouch with the bat, as he hit .288 with a .386 OBP and .819 OPS in 112 games across the AA and AAA levels this past season. He also hit 23 doubles, 13 home runs, and even stole 12 bases.
Teel has been exclusively a catcher professionally but spent some time in the outfield in college. The White Sox also have top catching prospect Edgar Quero in the farm system, so it will be interesting to see who becomes the primary long-term catcher. Regardless of where he lands defensively, Teel’s left-handed bat will be a much-needed addition in future White Sox lineups. Teel will likely begin the 2025 season in AAA, but we could see him on the south side sometime next year.
Braden Montgomery is a 21-year-old switch-hitting outfielder and was the 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft. He is currently the #54 prospect in baseball per MLB.com. Montgomery has 70-grade arm strength and 60-grade power and was a monster in his final season at Texas A&M. He hit .322 with 14 doubles, 27 home runs, and a 1.187 OPS in 61 games with the Aggies in 2024. Montgomery did not play professionally this past season because of a broken ankle, but he should be ready to go for 2025. His combination of power and arm strength makes him a logical candidate for right field long-term. He could be the answer the White Sox have needed in right field for years now.
Chase Meidroth is a 23-year-old right-handed infielder who was the Red Sox #11 prospect before the trade. Plate discipline and getting on base are Meidroth’s biggest strengths. He spent the entire 2024 season in AAA, hitting .293 with a ridiculous .437 on-base percentage. He walked 105 times in 122 games compared to just 71 strikeouts. For context, his walk rate this past season was almost 19% while his strikeout rate was just 12.7%. Meidroth hit just seven home runs this past season, but he also hit 20 doubles, stole 13 bases, and put up a 132 wRC+. He has experience at second, third, and shortstop and will likely be a factor in Chicago’s infield situation next year.
Wikelman González is the final player coming to Chicago. The 22-year-old right-handed pitcher was the Red Sox #14 prospect before the trade. He had a mediocre 2024 season in AA, as he had just a 4.73 ERA. However, he struck out 92 batters in just 83.2 innings. Walks are an issue for González, but his 60-grade fastball and 50-grade curveball and changeup give him an intriguing upside. González will likely begin 2025 in AA again as the White Sox pitching coaches work with him. He is the “lotto ticket” in this deal but could eventually make his way to Chicago either as a starter or reliever.
The Garrett Crochet trade was inevitable. It hurts to trade away such a talented pitcher, and it is eerily reminiscent of the Chris Sale trade that happened eight years ago. As a result of a bidding war however, Chicago got two top hitting prospects and an interesting infielder. They also landed an intriguing pitcher. The organization has a long way to go before they can contend again, but the players they got in this deal will hopefully be on the next good White Sox team.
