The Philadelphia Phillies did not make a big splash deal at the trade deadline. A blockbuster trade would have involved the club parting with multiple prospects including at least one of their top three young players such as shortstop Aidan Miller, injured pitcher Andrew Painter, or outfielder Justin Crawford.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and general manager Sam Fuld made the prudent choice to preserve the top talent in the organization's farm system. However, according to a piece in The Athletic by MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, Philadelphia made an offer near the trade deadline for Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet.
Eye-opening report shows how much Phillies wanted Garrett Crochet at trade deadline
The White Sox reportedly wanted Painter in return for trading Crochet. Philadelphia did not pursue a trade further considering the potential of their No. 2 overall prospect. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery this year but is progressing well to return to starting in games next season.
In the final 24 Hours of the Trade Deadline, the Phillies made an offer for SP Garrett Crochet that the Chicago White Sox considered “attractive”.
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) August 16, 2024
-@Ken_Rosenthal pic.twitter.com/hO8vG8hQBU
Crochet has had an inconsistent year finishing April with a 6.91 ERA in six starts. He was exceptional during May winning four of his five starts and posting an ERA of 0.93. The White Sox starter finished with 11 strikeouts during his appearances on May 10 and May 26.
The left-hander continued his season turnaround in June with a 1.91 ERA over six games. Crochet finished with 10 and 13 strikeouts in back-to-back starts on June 7 and 13, respectively. He ended the month with 11 punchouts on June 30. The White Sox appeared poised to deal the starter by the trade deadline considering how poorly the organization's season has played out. However, the Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers were unwilling to meet Chicago's trade demands for the starter.
The Ocean Springs, Mississippi native regressed in July with a 4.85 ERA in four games. Crochet has not done well during August with a 7.84 ERA in three appearances. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the 2024 American League All-Star could still be dealt this offseason by the White Sox as plenty of teams could pursue the starter.
Will the Phillies regret not acquiring the left-hander? Only time will tell based on Painter's progression from injury and how he continues to develop in Philadelphia's minor league system. If he lives up to his billing as a top starter in the club's starting rotation, then they made the smart decision to avoid trading him to the White Sox.