MLB Trade Rumors: Padres Targeting White Sox's Garrett Crochet amid Yu Darvish Injury

Because they've never seen a problem that can't be solved with a trade, the San Diego Padres "have recently shown strong interest" in Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet, according to The Athletic's Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal.

General manager A.J. Preller will feel compelled to act in order to bolster a starting rotation that just lost Yu Darvish (left groin strain) and Joe Musgrove (right elbow inflammation) to the injured list.

While both pitchers are only on the 15-day IL for now, Musgrove's injury feels a little more ominous because elbow inflammation can be the precursor for something more serious.

The White Sox are in a good position to put a reasonably high price tag on Crochet. The left-hander is 5-5 with a 3.49 ERA and a 2.88 FIP through 13 starts in his first season as a starter. His 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings are also leading all of MLB.

Chicago the worst record (15-45) in baseball and is years away from contending. It might as well see what kind of market Crochet is commanding.

Beyond his performance, the 24-year-old carries only a modest $800,000 salary for this year and will be arbitration-eligible in 2025 and 2026. That's the kind of cost control the Padres, who shed a lot of payroll in the offseason, would covet.

Preller has significantly depleted the farm system, though, through the trades for Juan Soto, Dylan Cease and Luis Arráez.

Lin and Rosenthal reported the White Sox "would require at least one position player prospect with significant upside" in return for Crochet. San Diego, for its part, is "reluctant" to include either catcher Ethan Salas or shortstop Leodalis De Vries in a deal unless it receives a "star talent."

There's no question Crochet would help the Padres. Still, Preller and the front office have to start thinking about the future at some point, especially when Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts are all signed through at least 2033. The organization will need young, homegrown talent to supplement its older stars down the line.