The Chicago White Sox accomplished something they haven’t in a very long time, and very rarely in their franchise history, as they beat the Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card round to advance to the ALDS.
This White Sox team moved on to the ALDS, and did so just two years after trading ace Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox. On the flip side, for the second consecutive season, the Red Sox were eliminated early by the New York Yankees since the trade.
After the AL Wild Card round in 2026, the White Sox might be the winners of this Crochet trade. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi highlighted why this might be the case, as the players the White Sox got from Boston for Crochet had a huge impact on their series win.
How White Sox might’ve won Garrett Crochet trade with Red Sox
“The White Sox traded Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox for 4 players, 3 of whom played every inning of the Wild Card Series: Chase Meidroth (2-3, HR, 3 RBI, R in Game 2), Kyle Teel (2-5, RBI, R in Game 2), Braden Montgomery (2-4, R in Game 1),” Morosi shared. “Chris Getz, take a bow.”
While the White Sox could really use a fully healthy Crochet in their shaky starting rotation right about now, the players they got back in exchange for Crochet have made a huge impact on their series win over the Houston Astros.
What makes things even better for the White Sox is that Crochet, in the Red Sox’s elimination game against the Yankees on the same day the White Sox clinched, allowed four earned runs without getting a single out.
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The Red Sox have Crochet locked up for the foreseeable future, but they don’t have much to show for it in terms of postseason success after back-to-back quick exits.
On the other side of the trade, the White Sox have advanced to the ALDS and will face the Cleveland Guardians for a chance to play in the ALCS.
Only Wikelman Gonzalez hasn’t made an impact for the White Sox yet from the Crochet trade. Teel, Meidroth, and Montgomery have all provided plenty of value this season and in the postseason for the White Sox.
With these young players under control for the foreseeable future on cheap contracts, along with Crochet’s struggles in 2026, the White Sox might’ve actually won this trade.
Last year, it looked like the Red Sox were clear winners, with Crochet being a top AL Cy Young candidate. But now, the White Sox have built a strong core with the haul for Crochet, one that helped them make the ALDS for the first time in a long while.
