Caller's Garrett Crochet trade idea brings BT to a creative way for Yankees to attack offseason

BT and Sal discussed a lot about Juan Soto and New York’s free agency approach with him on Friday, and other players the teams should look at in free agency – but Edwin in Newark had a little different approach on the Yankees side.

“There’s a report that the Yankees can’t possibly re-sign Soto and be in the mix for an ace, and I think the solution to this is so obvious: Garrett Crochet from the White Sox,” Edwin said. “We don’t have to pay him immediately, so it’s made to pay Soto now and worry about him later – and I’m not married to any Yankees prospects, except maybe Caleb Durbin as a short-term Gleyber replacement.”

The White Sox apparently do intend to trade Crochet at some point this offseason, and whoever gets him will have two years of team control likely at a reasonable cost, given MLB Trade Rumors projects him for a $2.9 million salary coming off a 3.58 ERA and 209 Ks in 146 innings this year.

So how to BT and Sal feel about the idea?

“If the Yankees did get him, it’s two years at a low cost, so it makes a lot of sense, but if it makes sense for the Yankees, why wouldn’t it make sense for the White Sox?” Tierney asked. “I know they’re rebuilding, but you don’t have to get rid of him, so why not use him as someone you build around?”

“I’m not opposed to it, but I don’t think the Yankees need pitching,” Sal replied. “You can always use more, but I’m looking at building out their roster, and on their list of priorities, the starters are fine. You have Stroman for two more years, you have Cole and Rodon and Schmidt and Gil, and Cortes. Could you add another? Sure, and maybe they find a way to move somebody, but I don’t think that’s a need.”

BT mentioned maybe dealing Schmidt, who has one more year of team control but less of a track record (and a slightly higher projected salary in 2025), but again, even with that, the Yankees have a surplus in that spot with bigger needs elsewhere to Sal.

“And maybe that’s why you creatively attack the offseason,” BT said. “What if they retain Soto, sign Adames, and trade for Crochet? Third base is fixed if he agrees to play there, you got Soto, and now you have another stud – you then could, conceivably, spin Schmidt and another high-level prospect to fill any other holes.”