MLB Insider Honors Red Sox With Regular Season Award

MLB’s regular season isn’t over, but awards talk is starting to creep into conversation. Jeff Passan released his yearly awards, with different categories than the standard end-of-season awards. Among them is “Transaction of the Year”, which he bestowed upon the Red Sox trade for Garrett Crochet.

The Red Sox acquired Crochet in December in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. The lefty has arguably been Boston’s most important player. Without him, it’s hard to envision the Red Sox fighting for a playoff spot with six games remaining.

Crochet has made 31 starts, and even though the Red Sox managed his innings at times, he leads the league in innings pitched. He’s struck out 249 batters, which also leads baseball. If it weren’t for Tarik Skubal, he’d be the heavy favorite for American League Cy Young.

Passan also mentioned the White Sox side of the deal. Kyle Teel debuted this season and looks to be an everyday big league catcher. Chase Meidroth is a dependable piece in the middle infield, and Wikelman Gonzalez has pitched well in relief. That doesn’t include Braden Montgomery, who remains a highly touted prospect and has a chance to debut next season.

The Red Sox trade for Crochet wasn’t the most shocking trade of the season. That award goes to the trade of Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. In terms of impact, though, it’s hard to argue against. It’s impossible to know what Boston looks like without Crochet, but unless the injury bug stays away entirely, the Red Sox probably aren’t in the position they are without their ace.

That wasn’t the only time the Red Sox were mentioned in the awards, either. Passan gave the “Chicken-and-Beer Award for Most Staggering Collapse” to the New York Mets for their late-season performance. The award title, of course, references the 2011 Red Sox, who failed to make the playoffs due to a September meltdown.

Passan’s awards aren’t official. No hardware comes with them. When the actual awards come around, the Red Sox have a chance to be honored there as well. Crochet has a case for the Cy Young, while Ceddanne Rafaela should be the favorite for the Gold Glove in center field.