The World Baseball Classic is a huge honor, but for one Red Sox ace, playing in it simply didn't add up.
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa was pulling out all the stops to get Red Sox star Garrett Crochet on board for the World Baseball Classic. You can hardly blame him – just imagine a pitching rotation featuring the likes of Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Crochet at the very top! That's the kind of firepower that can win championships.
“I had plans to do it,” Crochet shared on Friday. However, he explained that the decision ultimately came down to managing his innings and making the right choice for his career. Last season, Crochet pitched a whopping 213 innings, which was 67 more than he threw for the White Sox in 2024. On top of that, he welcomed a new addition to his family, becoming a father in November.
“When last season ended and then my daughter was born, everything kind of fell into my lap,” Crochet admitted. “I had to do what was best for my family and for my team.” This meant a more deliberate approach to his spring training build-up, prioritizing his health and readiness for the Red Sox season over international play.
“DeRosa approached me and I wanted to do it,” Crochet reiterated. “There was a point last season when it seemed possible. But then it just didn’t make sense.”
But here's where it gets interesting: Crochet looked incredibly sharp during his recent batting practice session on Friday at JetBlue Park. He's clearly eager to see how the Red Sox rotation stacks up this year, especially with the exciting new additions of Sonny Gray, Ranger Suárez, and Johan Oviedo. “It’s crazy thinking about what the rotation was when we broke camp last year and what we have now,” Crochet mused. “It’s cool they brought in people and Ranger and Sonny. And Oviedo is a big man. He’s impressive, too.”
Meanwhile, another presumed starter, Brayan Bello, also faced hitters on Friday, alongside relievers Greg Weissert and Jovani Morán. The team is clearly gearing up for a strong season.
And this is the part most people miss: The Red Sox are far from done in their quest for offensive improvement. Sources indicate they are still actively seeking to bolster their lineup, particularly through trades, given the dwindling free agent market. Their strategy seems to be leveraging promising prospects rather than making significant cuts to the current major league roster.
In the meantime, the team has been busy acquiring infield talent. Just a day after signing Brendan Rodgers to a minor league deal with a spring training invitation, they claimed Tsung-Che Cheng off waivers from the Nationals. These moves follow the recent signing of Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Cheng, a 24-year-old shortstop and second baseman in the minors, made his major league debut last season with the Pirates organization, appearing in three games. He’s bounced around waiver claims recently, with the Rays, Mets, and Nationals all having had him before the Red Sox. Notably, Cheng was selected to represent Taiwan in the WBC, showcasing his international pedigree. Rodgers, a 29-year-old with seven major league seasons under his belt, boasts a career .261 batting average and a .714 OPS. He was even a Gold Glove winner at second base in 2022. After his time with the Rockies, he played briefly for the Astros last season.
Pitching Updates from Fenway South:
Righthander Kutter Crawford was in the bullpen at Fenway South on Friday. His preseason training experienced a slight hiccup due to a week-long bout with the flu, which caused him to lose about 10 pounds. Also throwing in the bullpen was righthander Noah Song, who will be participating in major league camp for the first time. Song, 28, was drafted by the Sox in 2019 and returned to baseball in 2023 after serving in the Navy.
Now, let's talk about the WBC decision. Was Garrett Crochet right to prioritize his family and team over representing his country? Some might argue that the WBC is a unique opportunity that shouldn't be missed, regardless of innings pitched. What do you think? Should players be expected to participate in international tournaments even if it means a higher workload or potential risk? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
