What could a Brewers-Garrett Crochet trade package potentially look like?

The Milwaukee Brewers are rumored to be in the market for White Sox ace Garrett Crochet. A deal could come together at the Winter Meetings per a different report. The floodgates are about to open on the free agent and trade market.

Crochet is going to be one of the biggest fish on the pitching trade market. Teams such as the Red Sox, Reds, and Cubs have also been rumored to be in on Crochet. Now we know the Brewers are involved and the report coming so late in the process of the Brewers interest might mean Milwaukee has a legitimate chance to complete this deal. The Brewers had interest in Crochet back in July.

The real question is what are the Brewers going to have to give the White Sox in order to make a deal happen?

Crochet, in his first full healthy season in 2024, pitched to a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts and 146 IP. He struck out 209 batters and walked just 33. The White Sox managed his innings workload down the stretch to try to keep him healthy. His previous career high in an MLB season was 54.1 IP. Injuries hampered the first few years of his career. With his big 2024 season now under his belt, Crochet should be in line to see that innings total increase even more in 2025 and he should continue to get better.

That's why he's going to cost so much. The Brewers won't be able to get Crochet for cheap. His salary is cheap, projected at just $2.9MM for 2025 and has two more seasons of team control. But the prospect price is going to be quite high. What could it look like?

Projecting a Brewers-White Sox Garrett Crochet trade package

Getting Garrett Crochet is going to cost Milwaukee quite a bit from their farm system. Typically in trades for top of the rotation starters, teams want a top pitcher back in return. In this case, Jacob Misiorowski is a very strong candidate to headline the return to Chicago.

In all likelihood, acquiring Crochet is going to cost the Brewers one of Misiorowski, Cooper Pratt, or Jesus Made as a headliner. Of those three, I think Misiorowski is the one the Brewers would be most willing to include in a trade.

Misiorowski is near-MLB ready. He could pitch in a big league bullpen as soon as Opening Day 2025 but the Brewers also still believe he can start, but he may need a little more time in the minors before he goes to a big league rotation. He posted a 3.33 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A with 127 Ks in 97.1 IP.

Eric Bitonti was a 3rd round pick in 2023 and put up big numbers in his first full season in the minors. He slashed .282/.402/.544 with 16 homers and 12 stolen bases. Bitonti should be able to stick at the hot corner and has the power to be a 30 home run threat for years to come. There's also some swing and miss concerns in his profile. He managed it well in 2024, but that could be challenged as he faces higher level pitching.

Bishop Letson was an 11th round pick in 2023 but was given a large signing bonus and was considered a top five round talent. Letson has shown great improvement from the Brewers pitching lab, and posted a 3.13 ERA this season.

There's also the possibly of a trade-and-extension, where the Brewers sign Crochet to an extension immediately as part of the conditions of the trade. That would increase the return to the White Sox. Five or six years of team control is worth a lot more prospect capital than just two years of team control.

It appears the White Sox want to get a deal done in the next few days here at the Winter Meetings. If the Brewers are going to pull the trigger and get this trade done, they may have to part with a package that looks something like this.