If Garrett Crochet comes back this season, it’ll be in short relief. Last year’s AL Cy Young runner-up tells Chris Cotillo of MassLive that it’d “a million percent” be a bullpen return if he’s able to make it back before year’s end. Crochet has been out since April 26 with a capsule sprain in his shoulder.
“What could I build up to, max? Probably two innings, just looking at the schedule based on when I started throwing and being smart about it,” the southpaw said. Crochet is playing catch on a daily basis and gradually building intensity. There’s still no defined timetable for him to throw bullpen sessions or begin a rehab assignment.
As Cotillo points out, the lengthy injury has some important contractual ramifications. Crochet signed a six-year, $170MM extension just after Opening Day 2025. The deal ran through 2031 but included an opt-out clause after the ’30 season. As Jay Cohen and Kyle Hightower of The Associated Press were among those to report, that included an injury protection clause for the team.
If Crochet were to miss at least 120 days due to a left arm injury, the opt-out would be voided and the Red Sox would pick up a $15MM team option for 2032. Crochet’s IL stint will reach 120 days on Sunday. He’s clearly not going to be game ready by then.
“I would have liked to avoid it just because as a player, when you’re earlier in free agency in your (career), it’s huge,” Crochet acknowledged. “At the same time, I’m worried about the contract that’s at hand. I’m not worried about the next one. Not right now, especially when I’m sitting here on the IL. It is what it is. Hopefully, I’m performing well enough that (the 2032 option) gets picked up.”
The guaranteed portion of Crochet’s deal runs through his age-32 season. If the Red Sox exercise their new option, he’d hit free agency at 33. Had he stayed healthy, he would’ve been able to test the market at 31. That’s a big difference for a player’s earning potential. Crochet and his camp accepted that risk in exchange for the Sox taking a $170MM bet on his ceiling before he’d shown he could pitch at a top-of-the-rotation level for a full season. Crochet was surely aware there was a decent chance he’d suffer some kind of notable arm injury within the first six years given the general attrition rate for pitchers.
That’s all a concern for a half-decade from now. The immediate focus is on trying to get Crochet healthy to be a relief weapon in October. Boston’s bullpen is already among the best in MLB. They traded for Erik Miller as a lefty setup arm in front of Aroldis Chapman. They also have Jovani Morán as a decent lefty option in the middle innings. Boston is currently down two of their better right-handers in Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten. Interim skipper Chad Tracy said this afternoon that imaging came back clean on both their elbows (link via Tim Healey of The Boston Globe). They’re each dealing with inflammation and should be able to return fairly quickly.
