This year’s MLB winter meetings were much more exciting than in recent years, and the Boston Red Sox were in the middle of the action.
Of course, Juan Soto was the headline in Dallas. However, unlike last free agency, the top names in the market did agree to deals during winter meetings and baseball fans weren’t stuck waiting for months for something exciting to happen.
The Red Sox didn’t sign a player, but they made one blockbuster trade and another transaction that could be more meaningful than first anticipated. We’re going to give a grade on those deals starting with the headliner.
Red Sox acquired pitcher Garrett Crochet for outfielder Braden Montgomery, catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth and pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez
Grade: A
Alright, let’s get the obvious out of the way first. Crochet was a fantastic get for Boston. The 25-year-old earned his first career All-Star appearance in his first crack as a starter. He recorded a 3.58 ERA, 2.69 FIP and 1.068 WHIP in 146 innings. That was good for a 4.1 fWAR and 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He’s elite at generating swings and misses — a key trait the rotation needed — and being a left-hander also is a huge benefit for a right-handed dominant group. Don’t let his second half and 6-12 record fool you, Crochet has the potential to continue his dominance on a better team.
The Chicago White Sox got a good haul of prospects. It might seem like a lot to give up, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acknowledged that it’s the price to pay for a “bonafide ace.” It’s also perfectly appropriate given the trajectory of the roster. There really just aren’t that many spots for guys like Montgomery and Meidroth. It’s tough to lose a catching prospect like Teel, but it’s not an immediate position of need. Gonzalez might develop into a solid pitcher, but like Teel, Boston is focused on winning now, not three to five years from now. Also, the Red Sox should be confident that they can continue to find prospects to further build the farm system.
Red Sox acquire catcher Carlos Narváez for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and international bonus pool space
Grade: B
Did Boston fleece the Yankees again? For those who might have forgotten. In December last year, the Red Sox traded Alex Verdugo to New York for Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice. It looks like Verdugo’s time in the Bronx is one and done, and Fitts looks like a legit guy for the major league roster. Weissert is solid and Judice could develop into something in the future.
The Yankees won’t realize the return on Rodriguez-Cruz immediately, but Narváez could be the backup catcher Boston needs after Danny Jansen left for the Tampa Bay Rays and Teel was dealt in the Crochet trade. Narváez was a decent hitter in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but his value will come defensively. These gains need to be realized on the field, but it’s fair to be bullish on the idea of Narváez being a contributor on the major league roster.
