Crochet sees 'a lot of merit' in potential long-term stay with Red Sox

BOSTON -- At a music hall adjacent to Fenway Park, Garrett Crochet had his first introduction to Red Sox fans and got a glimpse of the type of thunderous applause he will receive when he walks off the mound following his first solid start for Boston.

A new ace is in town, and he was feeling the love from his new fanbase during player introductions at Fenway Fest on Saturday.

“Yeah, it's humbling,” Crochet said of the reception. “I have social media and I felt like fans were excited, but to see it in person and really feel that love is special.”

The way things are set up now, Crochet will pitch in front of Red Sox fans for the next two seasons, as the club has his contractual rights until then.

But Red Sox president/CEO Sam Kennedy indicated in an interview with NESN on Saturday that reaching an extension with Crochet is a top priority.

“Staying in Boston long term is something that has a lot of merit in my mind and something that I think would be awesome,” Crochet said. “But in the meantime, I'm just focused on Spring Training and getting ready for the upcoming season. Try and just stay focused one day at a time. And, when something is presented, then we'll attack it.”

Have there already been talks?

“There have been conversations with my agent and the front office, just kind of getting a feel for one another,” Crochet said.

Crochet won’t be the type to get distracted by his contract status as he prepares for the ’25 season.

“As of this moment, that's what I'm doing is worrying about on-field stuff,” Crochet said. “And I'm going to continue to do that, throughout the season. I'm happy to just stay in my own lane. And that's why players have agents.”

Lucas Giolito, who teamed with Crochet on the White Sox and is doing so again with Boston, gave fans an idea of what to expect from the team’s new ace.

“I got to know him from when he made his debut in 2020 as a 21-year-old kid,” Giolito said, “He got called right up to the big leagues, and last year, he really established himself as an elite-level starting pitcher, so I was super excited when we made that move. He's going to help lead the rotation, just coming out, doing what he does at a very high level.”