The Philadelphia Phillies are assessing their current state of affairs all over the roster. Multiple things need to be addressed, and plenty of names remain still available, including the trade market. The back end of the Phillies rotation was a problem at times with injuries and continual inadequate performances by starter Taijaun Walker.
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet is a name that has been thrown around for months as a possible trade candidate, per MLB.com's Scott Merkin. The White Sox were historically bad last season and will likely look to cash in as many chips as possible before Opening Day. The Phillies have been heavily linked to Crochet and have had extensive trade talks. There's a good chance the Phillies end up being the team that takes Crochet off the White Sox's hands.
Phillies dream 2025 rotation if they finally trade for Garrett Crochet
If the Phillies can swing a trade with Chicago that could completely round out a rotation that already sends shivers down the spines of opposing teams, few teams could compete with Philadelphia's arsenal. Here's the dream rotation scenario if Crochet is dealt to the Phillies this offseason.
Rank | Name |
|---|---|
1 | Zack Wheeler |
2 | Aaron Nola |
3 | Garrett Crochet |
4 | Cristopher Sánchez |
5 | Ranger Suárez |
6 | Andrew Painter |
This starting rotation has much still to prove to make a postseason run in 2025. Walker will still get a shot in spring training, but the likelihood of him amassing big outs next season is slim.
Crochet is coming off an All-Star season in 2024 with a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched. He is under team control until after the 2026 season but has also petitioned for a contract extension if he gets traded. The extension is doable given the money coming off the books in subsequent years following 2025.
Any rotation backed by perennial Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler will be a good one. Adding in Crochet deepens the starting five even further and will give him a chance to really stretch out his innings. Nola may still ride the No. 2 spot given his exceptional inning output each season and ability to compliment Wheeler.
Left-handers Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez will act as dependent pieces with Sánchez's home dominance and Suárez's ability to climb to the season's biggest moments.
And as if Phillies fans could forget, superstar pitching prospect Andrew Painter is making his way back from Tommy John surgery. After a solid Arizona Fall League showcase, he's ramping up toward his MLB debut. It won't happen immediately, but eventually, the Phillies will need to fit him in the rotation somewhere in 2025.