With the dust starting to settle on the blockbuster Garrett Crochet trade, we can get past the initial shock of the trade and focus on the haul of prospects the White Sox received in return. In this case, you have to give Chris Getz credit, as he did a fantastic job maximizing the prospect haul in return, as he was smart to hold on to Crochet at the deadline.
Now that the trade is official, the White Sox received four players from Boston. Catcher Kyle Teel (MLB Pipeline #25), outfielder Braden Montgomery (MLB Pipeline #54), shortstop Chase Meidroth (BOS #11), and pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez (BOS #14). Getting four players in the top 14 of the Red Sox system is tremendous, as they have a fantastic farm system.
These prospects bolster the White Sox farm system significantly, as they now have six players in the top 60 of the MLB Pipeline prospect list. Noah Schultz is ranked 16th, Kyle Teel 25th, Hagen Smith 30th, Colson Montgomery 37th, Braden Montgomery 54th, and Edgar Quero 59th. This is a fantastic top half of the farm system, as only the Cubs have more top 100 prospects in baseball. However, the White Sox have more ranked in the top 60.
On top of that, the White Sox have a few names who were just left off the top-100 list. That list includes players like Jairo Iriarte, George Wolkow, and Grant Taylor. These players have been mentioned in other top-100 lists or have been rumored to be making their debut on other top prospect lists this upcoming season.
That gives the White Sox nine top-125 ish prospects, which catapults them to one of the best farm systems in all of baseball. On top of that, they have Drew Thorpe who graduated off the list this past season, but was regarded as a top-50 prospect in baseball just last season.
The best part about the White Sox farm system is that most of the prospects are close to making their debuts. Colson Montgomery and Edgar Quero will make their debuts at some point this season, if not out of Spring Training.
Kyle Teel made it to AAA last season and Noah Schultz is dominating AA. Hagen Smith will likely start at AA and will move fast, as he was a college arm. Braden Montgomery was injured when the Red Sox drafted him last season, but don’t be surprised if he flies through the system.
The White Sox might not be done either, as they could get another good prospect or two if they decide to trade Luis Robert Jr., which could potentially give the White Sox another top-100 prospect.
While White Sox fans have heard this many times, specifically in the last few years, the future does look bright, and significantly brighter than it did at the beginning of last season.
