Boston Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet has had an unfortunate season.
The two-time All-Star has started just six games (30 innings) with a 6.30 ERA this season. While the rotation has picked up the slack in the meantime, the Red Sox got a major update about Crochet’s future with the team.
According to MLB.com’s Theo DeRosa, Crochet’s contract with Boston included a clause that if he spent 120 or more consecutive days on the injured list, he would have a club option added to his contract for the 2032 season. He officially met that threshold on Sunday.
What Does This Mean for Garrett Crochet and the Boston Red Sox?
This means that Crochet will be in Boston for the entirety of his six-year, $170 million contract.
“Sunday marked Crochet’s 120th consecutive day on the injured list, triggering a key clause in his extension with the Red Sox,” DeRosa wrote. “Crochet can no longer opt out of his contract after the 2030 season, and a $15 million club option for the 2032 season has been added to his deal.”
Since Crochet can no longer opt out after 2030, he’ll make $30 million in 2031 and then will have a $15 million club option with Boston for the 2032 season.
That club option is a bargain for Boston if Crochet gets healthy and returns to form.
Crochet last made a start for Boston on April 25 before shoulder inflammation and a lat strain. He is now starting to ramp up again. Crochet has been throwing up to 90 feet with intensity.
However, if the Red Sox are going to get back Crochet for their playoff push, he would be a reliever. So Crochet doesn’t really need to ramp up all that much to pitch out of the bullpen.
More On Crochet
The Chicago White Sox drafted Crochet in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee. He would debut later that season out of the bullpen.
Crochet would pitch in 72 games out of the bullpen for Chicago across three seasons before he became a starter.
In 2024, Crochet would start 32 games with a 3.58 ERA and make the All-Star Game. After the season, Chicago would trade him to Boston for a prospect haul.
The next season, Crochet would lower his ERA to 2.59, finishing second in the AL Cy Young race.
He had risen to one of the best pitchers in the game, making the 2026 season all the more disappointing. Crochet spoke about this contract eventuality in July.
“It sucks, but I mean, what’s the worst thing that happens?” Crochet said. “I’m in Boston for another year? Which is pretty good. This is a place that I wanted to be. That was a clause that was kind of helping the team mitigate the risk, I suppose. And they knew that there was risk. I knew that there was risk. Last year, it’s like, am I outperforming [his salary]? Or does it matter? And now I get hurt, and it’s like, I’m glad that I secured the protection.
“What I felt when I signed the contract was that I wanted to outperform the deal. So it sucks, but there’s still time.”
Now, the Red Sox get to keep Crochet until at least the 2032 season, with a strong likelihood that Boston will pick up his option.
If and when he eventually returns to his normal self, Boston will have a dangerous rotation for the future.
Red Sox Get Major Garrett Crochet Contract Update Amid Long-Term IL Stint