Garrett Crochet’s return is starting to feel closer for the Red Sox, but Boston can’t afford to get impatient with it.
The left-hander has been out since Apr. 25 with a shoulder injury, and while his eventual comeback would be a major boost, the Red Sox are in no position to force the issue. They need to be certain he’s fully ready before he takes the mound again. Anything less would be a mistake.
That’s because Boston has already built a rotation that can stand on its own. Crochet would be a welcome addition, sure, but he’s more like the finishing touch than a necessity at this point. The Red Sox look deep, balanced, and dangerous without him, which gives them the luxury of being careful.
Sonny Gray has put together arguably the best season of his career and has emerged as a Cy Young candidate. Ranger Suarez earned an All-Star nod this season. And the club has also gotten strong work from younger arms like Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett, with Connelly Early included in that group as well.
The numbers back it up. According to FanGraphs, Boston’s starters are ninth in ERA at 3.91, fifth in quality starts with 47, and 10th in strikeouts with 563. Their 10.2 WAR ranks eighth among all pitching staffs.
All of that has come without Crochet, who finished second in AL Cy Young voting just last year.
So while his return could push Boston’s title hopes even higher, there’s no need to hurry him back just to say he’s back. The Red Sox have enough time left to handle this the right way, and plenty of chances to get the “War Pig” back on the mound when the moment is actually right.
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The encouraging part for the Red Sox is that the issue is not connected to the recent helmet injury he suffered against the Dodgers, which had already been a separate concern on the injury front. Even so, Boston will be waiting on further updates after the game to get a better read on his status and whether this is just a short-term setback. [Read more 🡒]
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And that is where the larger question comes in for Boston. Reports say the Red Sox have an opening to talk about a contract extension with Rutschman, though nothing has been completed yet. For a club that has been searching for more stability at catcher, his health and his long-term fit now matter just as much as his eventual return to the field. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Fans Will Care About What Boston Got Back For Mayer
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Bostons side of the deal brings in left-hander Erik Miller, whose profile comes with both control questions and enough raw ability to make him worth watching, along with Carlos Gutierrez, a 21-year-old outfielder whose game is built around speed, defense and contact. For a team that has spent plenty of time sorting through infield traffic, the more interesting question now is how quickly these pieces can matter and whether either one ends up looking like the kind of secondary return that changes the way a trade is remembered. [Read more 🡒]