The idea of the Red Sox landing Garrett Crochet from the White Sox without touching their “big four” prospects is intriguing but difficult. The White Sox are clearly in a rebuilding phase and will prioritize acquiring high talent in any trade. A package headlined by Triston Casas, Wilyer Abreu, and Connor Wong, as suggested by the New York Times, seems like a realistic offer.  

Casas provides an immediate, MLB-ready bat with plus power, which the White Sox need as they rebuild their lineup. Abreu, an outfielder with good plate discipline, adds depth to the package, while Wong, although not a star, is a solid MLB-ready catcher with some power, which could be an area of need for Chicago. This package makes it a compelling offer for a team like the White Sox. 

The Red Sox has to lose some to win one

However, if the Red Sox want to pursue a trade without their big-name prospects, they’d need to get creative. A deal without the big four would likely need a balance of near-MLB-ready talent and high-upside pieces. One possibility could be a package including Mikey Romero, Abreu, and Kyle Teel. Teel is a catcher with strong offensive potential. Adding a versatile player like Tyler McDonough or even Niko Kavadas, a power-hitting first baseman, could help round out the offer.

While this package might not carry the same immediate impact as Casas or Anthony, it does provide the White Sox with multiple developmental assets. However, even with this mix, it would still fall short of the value that Casas would provide. Without those top-tier assets, the Red Sox would need to be creative. They will have to potentially rely on a mix of high-ceiling players like Romero or Teel. Still, it will be tough to get a player like Crochet without including one of their top-tier prospects. 

The Orioles also have eyes on Garrett Crochet  

The short answer is that it’s highly unlikely the Orioles can land Garrett Crochet without parting with Coby Mayo or Samuel Basallo. The White Sox are rebuilding, and for a high-upside, electric pitcher like Crochet, they would need to acquire at least two players who can be regulars in their lineup moving forward. That is something the Orioles’ system has plenty of, but it’s going to take their best assets to make a deal work.

Looking at a potential package led by Heston Kjerstad, Dylan Beavers, and a young pitcher does offer some appealing elements for the White Sox. Kjerstad is a bat-first outfielder with a lot of power, and Beavers has shown intriguing upside as a hitter with solid tools, especially when it comes to raw power. However, while both of these players have potential, they don’t carry the same immediate impact or consistency that Mayo or Basallo bring. The White Sox are unlikely to settle for a deal that doesn’t include one of the Orioles’ two top prospects.

For the Orioles to land Crochet, they would likely need to include Mayo or Basallo along with one or more of their other solid prospects, like Kjerstad, Beavers, or Jordan Westburg. This package would give the White Sox a higher likelihood of seeing immediate MLB contributions and more positional flexibility. As much as the Orioles are trying to avoid parting with their top-tier talent, the White Sox are targeting players who can help them sooner rather than later.