You only need to look a short distance to find a potential match for the White Sox in a Garrett Crochet trade—just eight miles, in fact.
There’s a history of notable trades between Chicago’s two MLB teams, featuring names like Sammy Sosa, Jon Garland, Dylan Cease, and Craig Kimbrel. Even recently, in February, the two front offices facilitated a minor deal, sending left-hander Bailey Horn from the Cubs to the Sox in exchange for right-hander Matthew Thompson.
While clubs like the Braves, Mets, Padres, Dodgers, and Red Sox have shown interest in Crochet, the Cubs might be in the best position to help Chris Getz achieve his goal of bringing in young, impactful hitters.
Crochet, an All-Star in his first year as a starter, has a promising future ahead, with two seasons left before free agency and an affordable projected arbitration salary of around $ 3 million. He would be a valuable asset for a Cubs team looking to strengthen its starting rotation alongside Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele, and Jameson Taillon. The timing of this situation is particularly interesting, as Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins aim to extract value from veteran players who are currently blocking the path for their prospects.
Matt Shaw, the Cubs’ top prospect, is a versatile infielder who has impressed with 29 home runs and a .906 OPS in 159 games since being drafted in the first round of 2023. After completing last season in Triple-A, he played a key role for Team USA, which earned a bronze medal in the recent Premier 12 tournament. However, there’s no opening for him at the moment, especially with Cody Bellinger’s return pushing Seiya Suzuki into the primary designated hitter role. Shaw is currently blocked at both of his preferred positions, second and third base.
Meanwhile, Nico Hoerner’s recent flexor tendon surgery has removed him from trade discussions. But are the Cubs still committed to third baseman Isaac Paredes, who struggled at Wrigley Field after being acquired from Tampa Bay in a mid-season trade?
Paredes certainly holds less value now than he did prior to last summer’s trade deadline. While he posted a 2.7 WAR in 2024, only 0.4 of that came from his 52 games with the Cubs. Nevertheless, the White Sox might still see him as a valuable asset to include in a trade for Crochet as they continue their rebuilding efforts.
The idea is that Hoyer and Hawkins could bundle the 25-year-old Paredes with two out of three promising prospects to strike a deal before teams pursuing free agents Corbin Burnes and Max Fried shift their focus to Crochet.
Here are some players that align with this strategy:
Outfielder Owen Caissie — A left-handed power hitter acquired from San Diego in the 2021 Yu Darvish trade, he has the potential to secure a corner outfield position through 2030 and beyond. However, he may be hindered by the presence of Bellinger, Suzuki, and Ian Happ over the next two seasons.
Catcher Moises Ballesteros — Now 21, he has already played 68 games in Triple-A and has improved his OPS each of the last three years. He recently shone in the Arizona Fall League, hitting five home runs and posting a .317 average in 19 games.
Third baseman Cam Smith — A first-round pick from Florida State this year. While it might seem unlikely that Hoyer and Hawkins would trade him, it’s worth noting that their predecessors dealt Garland and Cease to the White Sox when both were still early in their careers.
Shortstop Fernando Cruz — Considered one of the biggest prospects in the Cubs’ minor leagues, Cruz was signed for a $ 4 million bonus last January and just turned 18. He’s advanced for his age and shows great strength, indicating significant potential.
Shortstop Jefferson Rojas — With a strong hitting approach, Rojas was an 18-year-old regular in the Carolina League last season and could become a staple in Double-A during his age-20 season.
Infielder James Triantos — A second-round pick from Virginia who entered the draft a year early, Triantos has progressed to Triple-A within three years despite undergoing minor knee surgery. His success at a young age suggests a bright future, as he profiles as a second baseman.
Outfielder Kevin Alcantara — Acquired from the Yankees in the Anthony Rizzo trade, Alcantara debuted at Wrigley Field as a 22-year-old in September. He possesses speed and power with 20/20 potential, but like Caissie, faces obstacles from veteran players. He could quickly fill a role once Getz trades Luis Robert Jr., which seems likely.
The starting pitching market is developing more rapidly than anticipated, with free agents Blake Snell (Dodgers) and Yusei Kikuchi (Angels) already signing deals. It appears the White Sox are on the verge of making their biggest move since trading Chris Sale.
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