With the MLB trade deadline less than two weeks away, plenty of contending teams are making calls about baseball‘s hottest commodity: controllable starting pitching. After all, you can never have enough pitching, and teams are always looking for ways to add affordable, controllable young starters that can propel a playoff chase.

Garrett Crochet has two years of arbitration left on his deal after this season, and will earn only $800k this year. He’s enjoyed a breakout campaign, making his first All-Star team, finally able to stay healthy and in a starting rotation for the first time in the majors. His peripherals are elite; a 2.44 xERA, .194 xBA and 35.2% K rate all rank in the top 5% of the league. Three elite pitches, top end velocity + extension, excellent control and a deceptive release point all contribute to his developed status as one of the best pitchers in baseball.

The drawbacks in trading for Crochet are simple. The injury history isn’t great, and he’s already blown past his previous high innings total of 54.1 innings back in 2021. Whoever is managing his innings down the stretch will inevitably work in extra days of rest, limited pitch counts and maybe even a short stay on the injured list.

The other drawback is the cost, which is a byproduct of all of the upside. Crochet is an ace. He is a starter who can pitch Game 1 of a playoff series and is the type of pitcher who can carry his team to crucial postseason victories. He’s also 25 years old, and with his ridiculous talent and affordable control, the cost in prospects will be enormous. With these factors in mind, I’ll discuss the viability of five trade destinations for Crochet this July.

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