The Los Angeles Dodgers are fresh off winning their second World Series in five seasons. They did it in dominating fashion by beating the New York Yankees in five games. But that doesn’t mean the roster is without holes as preparations for 2025 are underway.
Could president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman bolster his rotation by trading for Chicago White Sox ace Garrett Crochet? Los Angeles has plenty of starting pitchers currently on their roster. However, many have questions attached to them heading into next season.
Shohei Ohtani hasn’t pitched since 2023 because of Tommy John surgery.
Bobby Miller posted an 8.52 ERA in 56 innings while Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May all finished 2024 on the injured list. Crochet would be an elite addition to the Dodgers’ staff. He was named an All-Star during his first year as a full-time starter.
The southpaw finished his campaign with a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 209 strikeouts in 146 innings. Spotrac pegs his market value for a multi-year deal at six seasons and $130 million.
However, he’s only under contract via arbitration and is projected to earn $2.9 million next season. What might the Dodgers have to surrender to convince the White Sox to send Crochet to Hollywood?
JustBaseball’s Elijah Evans put together the following hypothetical swap: – Dodgers receive: left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet – White Sox receive: catcher Dalton Rushing, shortstop Alex Freeland and shortstop Emil Morales
This package would include three top-10 prospects heading to the Windy City — MLB.com has Rushing ranked first, Freeland at third and Morales at eighth. It’s a high price, but it’s also one the Dodgers can afford.
Bleacher Report ranked L.A.’s farm system eighth overall in baseball at the end of the season.
Acquiring Crochet would give the Dodgers an ace-level hurler for at least the next two seasons.
They could also easily afford to sign him to a long-term extension.
That’s what the club did last winter after acquiring Glasnow via trade.
