Red Sox Announce Revisions in Payroll and Rotation Plans Following Garrett Crochet Trade

The Red Sox estimated payroll in 2025 stands at roughly $151 million after accounting for Garrett Crochet’s estimated salary, so their budget remains subpar and still offers ample free agents available for signing. Their projected 2025 starting pitcher rotation should include Garrett Crochet (LHP), Tanner Houck (RHP) and others as needed to meet roster constraints. No. 3 starter was Brayan Bello from RHP while Kutter Crawford also came off of RHP stance for starter No. 4. No. 5 starter Lucas Giolito (RHP), Closer: Liam Hendriks (RHP), Closer: Liam Hendriks (RHP) as the No. 6 starter; Set up Aroldis Chapman with left-handed bat (LHP); Justin Slaten with right-handed bat; Reliever Greg Weissert RHPP Reliever Brennan Bernardino LHP Michael Fulmer RHP Justin Wilson LHP Garrett Whitlock RHPIt is clear from Boston’s roster that the Red Sox prioritized Crochet via trade; four right-handed starters comprise Boston’s current projected starters following Crochet’s acquisition via trade deal with Cleveland; Not necessarily bad is having an entire rotation consisting of same-handed pitchers if all are capable of getting out hitters from both sides of the plate, like Kutter Crawford and Tanner Houck did last season, with Crawford holding lefty batters to an OPS of just.675 over 394 plate appearances! Houck was even better against left-handed batters with an OPS of.589. Rayan Bello has historically struggled in this department throughout his career. Lefties have posted an OPS of.828 against him over three seasons, as opposed to righties’ OPS of.693. Crochet was equally effective against both lefties (.651 OPS) and righties (.640 OPS) when pitching for the White Sox in 2024. He provides Boston with much-needed pitching talent who can miss bats. Lucas Giolito sat out last season following internal brace surgery on his right elbow in March, yet could return as early as 2025 in their rotation mix. How effective he will be after missing an entire season and posting an 4.89 ERA over 63 starts from 2022-23 is still unknown, however. Garrett Whitlock underwent internal brace procedure on his pitching elbow in May and should at least return as reliever next season. Chris Sale (11.4), is certainly well known to Red Sox fans; they will surely hope that Crochet can become their new Chris Sale in due time. No one expected Sale to have such an impressive year after being traded from Boston during the offseason to Atlanta. Crochet only appeared in 31 games during his four years with Boston and then won an NL Cy Young award while with Atlanta. If he can deliver even half that level of production for Boston over 2025 and beyond, this trade would represent an enormous victory for a franchise that’s sorely in need of optimism after missing three consecutive playoffs.