Red Sox Find Long-Term Silver Lining in Garrett Crochet's Rehab

The Boston Red Sox star will be in Boston for an extra season.

Apr 13, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Boston Red Sox have been missing their top starter for a long time at this point.

Lefty superstar Garrett Crochet hasn't taken the hill for Boston since April 25 due to shoulder and lat injuries. Initially, he landed on the Injured List with left shoulder inflammation and then he had a setback with his lat shortly afterward.

It's been a long run for Crochet, but he's finally starting to make real progress towards a return. Crochet has been throwing and is up to 90 feet with "intensity." If the Red Sox are going to see the lefty again this season, it's going to be in a bullpen role. The nice thing about that is the fact that he will not need to build up to the same level as he would to go out and start and pitch six or seven innings.

Garrett Crochet Is Working His Way Back

Apr 19, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It's been a tough season for the lefty, but there was a bit of a silver lining for the Red Sox on Sunday. When the Red Sox handed Crochet his six-year, $170 million deal, they built in a clause in the deal that would add a $15 million club option for the 2032 season if he spent 120 or more consecutive days on the Injured List during a season due to an arm injury. As Crochet has been on the Injured List, it seemed like he would hit this threshold. On Sunday, he officially did, per MLB.com's Theo DeRosa.

"Sunday marked Crochet’s 120th consecutive day on the injured list, triggering a key clause in his six-year, $170 million extension with the Red Sox. Crochet can no longer opt out of his contract after the 2030 season, and a $15 million club option for the 2032 season has been added to his deal," DeRosa wrote.

So, what this means is Crochet will no longer have an opt-out in his deal after the 2030 season. He'll make $30 million in 2031 and then will have a $15 million club option with Boston for the 2032 season. Crochet was 26 years old when the 2026 season kicked off and recently turned 27 years old. He'll be 32 years old when the 2032 season begins.

It's unfortunate not to have Crochet on the mound. But there's a real chance we see him down the stretch and now Boston has him under contract for an extra season. That's a silver lining, at least.