The Boston Red Sox found their ace for the future Wednesday afternoon, addressing their biggest need of the offseason.

The Red Sox pulled off an ambitious trade to bring in frontline starter Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox. Boston sent four notable prospects back to the White Sox, but this was a move the Red Sox needed to make with a true need for starting pitching in an intense market for it.

Crochet, barring other moves, slides in nicely at the top of the rotation for the Red Sox. He gives Boston the left-handed option and the pure talent the group needs at the top.

Here’s how the Red Sox rotation currently projects for 2025.

SP Garrett Crochet
SP Tanner Houck
SP Brayan Bello
SP Lucas Giolito
SP Kutter Crawford

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This move, and any ensuing moves for more starters, allows for legitimate depth and the chance to maximize talented arms in other roles. Alex Cora alluded to a logical return to the bullpen for Garrett Whitlock, where he had his best season and his healthiest season in Boston as a true weapon in 2021.

The Red Sox should also be able to call upon optionable depth throughout the season in Quinn Priester, Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins.

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Boston can still do more in the rotation. Maybe it’s still making the big splash with Corbin Burnes or supplementing with a World Series champion in Walker Buehler. Either way, the franchise has its man capable of leading the rotation in 2025 and beyond.

Featured image via Orlando Ramirez/Imagn Images