Red Sox deal for all-star pitcher Garrett Crochet, send 4 prospects to White Sox

All-star left-hander Garrett Crochet was acquired by the Boston Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday for four prospects: catcher Kyle Teel, infielder Chase Meidroth, right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez and outfielder Braden Montgomery.

Chicago announced the trade. Crochet was 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts for a White Sox team that went 41-121, the most losses for any club since 1900. The 25-year-old was picked for the AL All-Star team in his first season as a starter.

Selected 11th overall by Chicago in the 2020 amateur draft, Crochet made his major league debut that September. He had a 2.82 ERA in 2021 while striking out 65 in 54 1/3 innings, then had Tommy John surgery on April 5, 2022. He didn't return to the major leagues until May 18, 2023.

Crochet's sinker averaged 97.9 mph this season and his four-seam fastball 97.2. He also throws a cutter, sweeper and changeup.

Crochet had an $800,000 salary this year. He is eligible for arbitration this offseason and next, and he can become a free agent after the 2027 World Series.

Before the trade, Boston's projected rotation had five starters: Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock and Lucas Giolito.

Teel is rated Boston's No. 4 prospect by MLB.com, Meidroth No. 11, Gonzalez 14th and Montgomery 54th.

Tauchman joins White Sox

Mike Tauchman is switching sides in Chicago.

The White Sox announced a one-year, $1.95-million US contract for the former Cubs outfielder.

Tauchman, 34, grew up in Palatine, Ill., about 56 kilometres northwest of Chicago, and played college ball for Bradley in Peoria, Ill. He spent the previous two seasons with the Cubs.

Asked about Tauchman, new manager Will Venable said he likes his consistency.

"Can control the zone. Give you a professional at-bat, good defender, good baserunner," Venable said. "Just one of those guys that you can depend on every day."

Tauchman joins a White Sox team that went 41-121 this year and broke the post-1900 major league record for losses in a season.

Tauchman batted .248 in 109 games this past season with seven homers and 29 runs batted in.

Bieber re-signs with Guardians

Shane Bieber's comeback with Cleveland has double meaning.

The former Cy Young winner re-signed with the Guardians; a reunion that seemed unlikely when he became a free agent. However, the 29-year-old Bieber decided to stay with the American League Central champions after making just two starts in 2024 before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Bieber agreed last week to a one-year, $14 million contract. The deal includes a $16 million player option for 2026.

It seemed like a long shot that Bieber, who is 62-32 with a 3.22 earned-run average in 132 starts, would return to Cleveland. He had turned down long-term offers in the past from the club, and it was expected he would sign with another contender, likely one on the West Coast.

But the California native has a special connection with the Guardians, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.

Bieber, who won the AL Cy Young in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, threw only 12 innings last season before lingering issues with his elbow forced him to have surgery. He is expected to join Cleveland's rotation at some point in 2025.