The Cleveland Guardians are a couple of pieces away from being true World Series contenders.
Most of their needs are associated with the rotation, though, where they were already thin and now have to deal with Shane Bieber, Matthew Boyd and Alex Cobb all hitting the free agent market.
While the Guardians probably don’t have the money or the willingness to go for a big, pricy free agent target like Corbin Burnes or Max Fried, they do have the option of venturing into the trade market.
They have a deep, quality farm that they can leverage into a star or two.
Bleacher Report proposes a mock trade involving Chicago White Sox star Garrett Crochet.
Here is the deal:
“Hypothetical Trade: Cleveland sends OF Jaison Chourio, 1B Ralphy Velazquez and RHP Braylon Doughty to Chicago White Sox for LHP Garrett Crochet,” they wrote on X.
4. Cleveland Guardians
Hypothetical Trade: Cleveland sends OF Jaison Chourio, 1B Ralphy Velazquez and RHP Braylon Doughty to Chicago White Sox for LHP Garrett Crochet pic.twitter.com/fdVUlJ1cL4
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) November 9, 2024
Crochet is young (25 years old), good (3.58 ERA, 209 strikeouts in 146 innings) and controllable, so yes: the prospect capital required to acquire him is significant.
As far as mock trades go, this one is not that far from what it would take for Cleveland to lure the Sox into trading their ace.
Chourio and Velasquez are both premium prospects.
Are they good enough to headline a deal for Crochet? It would be up to the White Sox.
Imagining Crochet at the top of the Guardians rotation has to be a fascinating thought for fans.
He could bring in bat-missing ability and raw stuff to a staff in need, making him a hypothetical good addition.
NEXT: Guardians Infielder Controversially Loses Race For Prestigious Award
