This is the one hitter, don’t forget to exhale…
Previously, I wrote about how difficult it would be to trade Craig Kimbrel after his rough second half of the season and with his large salary. Lock out or not, I’d wager he’d still be on the roster either way.
Since I wrote that, not only has he remained with the club, but the Sox added Kendall Graveman. This now makes the back of the bullpen Liam Hendriks, Craig Kimbrel, Aaron Bummer, Kendall Graveman. We’ll assume Kopech is going to the rotation. If Kimbrel stays, where does that leave Garrett Crochet? He’s the 5th bullpen arm? Is that what we want with our #1 pick from 2020?
I think it’s worth considering putting him in the minors and developing him into a starter. In the coming years, with contracts escalating or ending, starting pitching is going to be a problem. The Sox should find out if Crochet can start.
I know this leaves us without a second lefty out of the bullpen, but even if you don’t go out and get someone, there are guys like Anderson Severino and Brandon Finnegan who can eat the 40-45 innings we’d probably need out of the 5th arm in the pen. Please DO NOT think I am saying they’re as good as Crochet. I’m saying by adding so many arms, the Sox have devalued Crochet’s contribution to the 2022 team. So why not give him the chance to be a much bigger contributor when injury strikes the rotation?
-Chorizy-E
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