Yankees ‘love’ Garrett Crochet’s potential as trade deadline approaches

With the Chicago White Sox (20-56) on track to finish as one of the worst teams in modern baseball history, it’s extremely hard to believe that there are actually multiple players on the roster who can make valuable playoff contributions. Still, general manager Chris Getz, in his first year, will be getting a lot of calls in the coming weeks. The World Series-hoping New York Yankees could be on the other side of the line.

The owner of the best record in MLB is definitely in a position to buy before the July 30 trade deadline, but it’s unclear what exactly the team needs. New York has star power, lineup versatility, a robust starting lineup and a top-notch bullpen that far exceeds its name.

Having lost time and again to their strongest opponents in the postseason, the Yankees cannot afford to be complacent, and general manager Brian Cashman must do everything he can to bring the Bronx their first championship since 2009.

Garrett Crochet, the White Sox’s biggest talent, certainly catches his attention and that of several other executives.

“Every team competing for the title is interested in the reliever-turned-starter, and while he’s already outperformed his past performance, teams (the Yankees are among them) love his arm and his potential,” Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported. “It’s unclear how many more innings his strong arm can handle, but teams are ready to find out.”

When New York competes in a star-studded competition, it usually does well. Is the Fall Classic’s lure big enough to land Cashman and the organization a blockbuster deal?

The Yankees’ rotation may not be as solid as it seems

Before right-hander Clarke Schmidt went on the 60-day injured list, there was debate about which starter would slide into the bullpen to make room for the returning Gerrit Cole. While the stats suggest an abundance of riches, there’s a realistic chance that at least a few of the Yankees’ pitchers will either decline or lose power by October.

Carlos Rodon is a wild card who has struggled with injuries throughout his career; rookie Luis Gil underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and could face an innings limit; Marcus Stroman could struggle to maintain momentum; Nestor Cortes has yet to make more than 28 starts in a season, and Cole is just returning to the lineup.

None of those fears have come to fruition so far, but Garrett Crochet can be the insurance this club needs heading into the final stretch of the year. Forget that, he can potentially lift them above the rest of the field.

Garrett Crochet is here

In the playoffs, pitching is king, and this hard-throwing left-hander may have just what it takes to help New York finally reclaim the MLB crown. As Heyman suggests, Crochet comes with question marks of his own. He missed all of 2022 recovering from Tommy John surgery, and like Gil, he’s taking on a significant major league workload for the first time. That being said, the 25-year-old (birthday Friday, June 21) should be the most promising pitcher on the transfer market if the White Sox release him.

Crochet is 6-6 with a 3.25 ERA, 124 strikeouts (leading the American League) and a .947 WHIP in 16 starts. He is holding opponents to a meager .195 batting average, .335 slugging percentage and .583 OPS. The former first-round pick appears to be on his way to Globe Life Field to pitch in his first All-Star Game.

And then he could move on to a new team. With the Yankees currently battling the usual obstacles of not making the postseason and the Baltimore Orioles suffering from a series of pitcher injuries, this could be a prime opportunity for Brian Cashman to put the finishing touches on an AL pennant win. He will have competition, though.