MLB Trade Rumors: Orioles have had a call on Garrett Crochet, per report
Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet is having a phenomenal season. With the trade deadline looming and the team looking like sellers, it's not far-fetched to assume that Crochet is pitching for a different team after July 31. Amid trade rumors, a new team seems to have entered the fray to trade for him.
According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, Crochet had a call with the Baltimore Orioles. With the Yankees and Orioles being the best teams in the American League, both will try to bolster their rosters to overpower the other post-All-Star teams.
"They have recently had a call on Garrett Crochet," Heyman said.
"Yes, I think they (O's) do grab bullpen. I do think that obviously the rotation is the number one need for the Orioles. Bradish being out for the year, that hurts them. Right now they've got a one-game lead as we do this with the Yankees, a terrific positional team. I think they'll get a bullpen piece and I do think they will get a rotation piece," Heyman added.
Garret Crochet was the best AL pitcher in June, the league announced on Thursday.
In six appearances in June, Crochet went 1-1 with a 1.91 ERA (8 ER/37.2 IP), six walks and 56 strikeouts to become the first pitcher from the White Sox to win the honor since Dylan Cease in June and July of 2022.
His season ERA stands at 3.02, going 6-6 in 18 games pitched. He leads the majors with 141 strikeouts and 12.52 SO/9.
White Sox have "no-optimism" in re-signing Garrett Crochet; multiple teams line up, per insider
According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the White Sox have engaged in contract extension talks with the pitcher's camp but have left with "no-optimism," which suggests that Garrett Crochet may be moved before the trade deadline.
Nightengale also added that as many as 15 teams have inquired about his services with the White Sox, while the LA Dodgers have given them a deal, which the Sox rejected immediately.
With Crochet performing at a career high level and being fresh off winning the AL Pitcher of the month in June, the White Sox wants to seek high value in terms of prospects in exchange for Crochet.
The pitcher is under team control until the 2026 season and also only has a cap hit of $800,000 this season, which suggests that anyone looking to have him for more than one season might trade for him.