"It's a ballsy move" - Garrett Crochet's audacious trade stipulations shock ex-Twins slugger
Chicago White Sox flamethrower Garrett Crochet was considered to be an easy move before the trade deadline. He is shining on a struggling team, but his most recent trade requests have some scratching their heads.
Crochet reportedly wants a contract extension with the team that trades for him, in order to pitch in the postseason. He also does not want to move back to the bullpen, he wants to remain a starter that goes every five days.
That is quite the demand for somebody who is in his first year as a starter. It is something that former Minnesota Twins slugger Trevor Plouffe has mixed emotions about. He talked about the issue alongside Chris Rose on Baseball Today:
"I have mixed emotions about it, honestly. I texted Ollie [Linton], my guy at CAA, and I asked him who Crochet's agents were and he told me and I said 'Man, it's like a ballsy move saying that stuff."
Plouffe understands where crochet is coming from and wants to be protected, but that is a demanding list of needs. It has to intimidate some teams who were thinking about reaching out to the White Sox. Plouffe said:
"If I'm on the team that trades for him, I don't know how I react to it. I think I'd be pretty upset if the guy that we traded for, and is one of our best pitchers, all of a sudden says, 'Hey man, I'm out for the playoffs,' that's just crazy for me."
It could be a situation that could cause some internal drama. This will be a situation that fans will want to keep their eye on.
Who has shown interest in Garrett Crochet?
One team that has been tied to Garrett Crochet has been the New York Yankees. However, they would have to be okay with parting ways with top prospect Spencer Jones if they want the flamethrower.
Another team interested in Crochet is the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are also interested in Luis Robert Jr. and Chicago could throw the pair in a trade package if LA's offer is lucrative enough.
Crochet is an intriguing arm that could help plenty of teams going forward. The question is, are these teams comfortable enough to give in to his demands? This is a question front offices will have to address quickly with a July 30 deadline.