Ace left-hander Garrett Crochet has secured a record-breaking $170 million, which happens to be a six-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.
The agreement, which will begin next year, is in fact, the largest contract ever for a pitcher with four or more years of Major League service time.
The deal, first reported by ESPN, includes an opt-out clause after the 2030 season, giving Crochet flexibility beyond the initial contract period.
The 25-year-old pitcher, who was traded to the Red Sox from the Chicago White Sox during the winter meetings in December, made his debut for Boston on Opening Day.
He pitched five innings of two-run ball, earning a no-decision in the Red Sox’s 5-2 win against the Texas Rangers. Crochet is slated to take the mound again on Wednesday night in Baltimore.
Crochet had a solid 2024 season, finishing with a 6-12 record and a 3.58 ERA across 32 starts for the White Sox, despite the team’s struggles with a 41-121 record. In his first season as a starter, Crochet was named an All-Star.
Selected 11th overall by Chicago in the 2020 amateur draft, Crochet debuted in September of that year and quickly gained attention for his impressive pitching.
He posted a 2.82 ERA in his first full season in 2021 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2022. After a long recovery, Crochet returned to the majors in May 2023.
With a fastball that averaged 97.9 mph on his sinker last season, along with a four-seam fastball at 97.2 mph, Crochet’s arsenal also includes a cutter, sweeper, and changeup.