Reports: Guardians shot the door as they refuse to deal for Rivals Ace, sending shockwaves through the MLB…..Read more

The Cleveland Guardians are expected to be major players in the starting pitching market between now and the MLB trade deadline on July 30, and one name that has repeatedly surfaced as a possible candidate is Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet.

Crochet is widely regarded as the best pitcher available on the trade market, so it’s no surprise that the Guardians, who have one of baseball’s weakest rotations, have been discussed as a potential destination for the lefty.

However, the chances of Cleveland making a deal for Crochet are getting increasingly unlikely. The asking price for Crochet is allegedly expensive, and given that the Guardians are a division foe of the White Sox, one would expect Chicago to want to drive Cleveland over the coals in trade negotiations. But there’s another major obstacle that could be the Guardians’ primary reason for waiting on Crochet: there’s growing concern that he’ll be available for the postseason.

Crochet is reportedly planned on continuing his present workload as a starter until the end of the regular season, but would need a contract extension if asked to pitch into October, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. Crochet had thrown 72 innings since making his major league debut in 2020, as of 2024. He has already played 111.1 innings this season.

The left-hander began his big-league career as a reliever and had Tommy John surgery in April 2022, so his durability is definitely a question mark. Crochet has been outstanding since joining the White Sox’s starting rotation, throwing to a 3.07 ERA and striking out a league-high 157 this season. However, the uncertainty surrounding his future may prevent rivals from acquiring him before the end of the month, particularly given the big package Chicago is asking for in return.

As much as Cleveland needs starting pitching, it’s difficult to envision the traditionally conservative Guardians front office taking such a huge gamble by moving big components for Crochet, who may not even throw a pitch for the club during a potential postseason run.

Cleveland could be better off looking at other choices, including Detroit Tigers righty Jack Flaherty or Chicago’s Erick Fedde. The Guardians’ prospects of landing Crochet have always appeared small, but we may now reasonably presume that they are next to none.