The White Sox and Red Sox connected on a franchise-altering trade exactly one year ago today when Chicago sent Garrett Crochet to Boston in exchange for four prospects. It was a polarizing trade at the time, and now that a year has passed, we can reassess the trade with a fresh perspective.
Garrett Crochet
The crown jewel of the trade, Crochet quickly proved that his 2024 breakout season with the White Sox was no fluke. He took another step forward in his first season with Boston, pitching to an impressive 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 2.89 FIP, and 11.2 K/9, while earning his second consecutive All-Star appearance. He also won 18 games and led the American League in both strikeouts and innings pitched, with his season culminating in a second-place finish in the AL Cy Young race behind only Tarik Skubal of the Tigers. His dominant playoff start was the cherry on top of an incredible season. He struck out 11 and allowed just one in a 7.2 inning gem against the Yankees.
Boston wasted little time locking him up long-term, signing Crochet to a six-year/$170 million contract extension in late March. That contract has already proven to be very team-friendly for the production he has provided, and he will likely remain as one of the best pitchers in baseball for years to come. It’s safe to assume that the Red Sox are happy with their end of the deal.
Kyle Teel
As one of the centerpieces in the trade from the White Sox perspective, Teel quickly proved why Chicago thought so highly of him in the first place. After putting up impressive numbers in Triple-A to start the season, the White Sox called him up in early June. He never looked back.
Across 297 MLB plate appearances as a rookie, he slashed .273/.375/.411 with 11 doubles and eight home runs, good enough for a 121 OPS+. It didn’t take long for him to prove that he can hit big league pitching, and while his defense could use refinements, it was overall a quality initial showing for the 23-year-old. He is now in the conversation as one of the best young catchers in baseball.
Given his rookie season and potential, other teams have unsurprisingly inquired on his availability this offseason, including the Red Sox. There is no indication that the White Sox will trade him though, and he figures to be one of the centerpieces of the team for the foreseeable future.
Chase Meidroth
It took a grand total of nine Triple-A games for Meidroth to prove that he was too good for that level. The White Sox called him up in early April, and he remained in the big leagues for the rest of the season.
Meidroth’s rookie season was a mixed bag. He immediately excelled at making contact, ranking in the 96th percentile in whiff % and 88th in K%. He also showed promise with the glove, ranking in the 80th percentile in outs above average.
Lack of power was the main criticism of Meidroth as a rookie. He hit just five home runs in 505 MLB plate appearances and slugged only .320, which was lower than his .329 on-base percentage. It’s an area of his game that he will need to improve over time.
Meidroth should have a fairly strong hold on a starting spot throughout next season, but prospects Sam Antonacci, Caleb Bonemer, and others are quickly coming for his spot. 2026 will be a crucial season for Meidroth, as his performance will likely determine his future place on the roster. The team will have a lot of infielders in the wings waiting for their chance, especially if they draft Roch Cholowsky with the first overall pick next year.
Wikelman González
González spent the 2025 season shuttling between the Triple-A and MLB levels, but showed promise in his big league stints. He struck out 25 in 20.1 MLB innings, along with a 2.66 ERA and 3.09 FIP.
Walks have historically been his kryptonite, and those issues persisted in his first season with the White Sox organization. He walked 41 in 49.1 innings overall, including 12 free passes in 20.1 innings at the MLB level. He figures to have a chance at an Opening Day roster spot with a good spring, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he earned his way into high leverage relief innings in 2026. Limiting walks is the next step of his development.
Braden Montgomery
Montgomery is the only player in the return to not reach the major leagues in 2025, but the best of the bunch might be saved for last. The 22 year old switch hitting outfielder flew through the minors in 2025, collectively slashing .270/.360/.444 in 517 plate appearances between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A. He finished the season on a high note as well, hitting .366 with an 1.161 OPS in 12 Arizona Fall League games.
Now arguably the top prospect in the White Sox organization, Montgomery figures to get his first crack at the big leagues sometime in 2026. Chris Getz recently downplayed the possibility of him making the Opening Day roster, but a good spring training could change that. In any case, he will likely be another centerpiece in the lineup moving forward in the outfield.
Potential Win/Win Trade
True win/win trades aren’t all that common, but the Garrett Crochet trade is shaping up to be an example of one. The Red Sox traded a whole lot of the future for right now, and Crochet has instantly helped make them one of the best teams in the American League. The White Sox traded a lot of the present for the future, and it appears that all four players they received could play significant roles on the team moving forward. Given the circumstances, both teams have gotten exactly what they hoped for up to this point in this trade.
