“I went down to Fort Myers, Florida to work with the Red Sox staff. They got me back on my feet. I’m moving around, feeling great again.”
Former Texas A&M baseball player Braden Montgomery has had a whirlwind of a year.
In 2024, Montgomery transferred from Stanford to the Aggies, quickly asserted himself as a top 10 MLB prospect and broke his right ankle during the College World Series. The injury caused Montgomery to drop to the 12th overall pick, where he was selected by the Boston Red Sox.
Montgomery was asked about his recovery on Hot Stove with Matt Vasgersian and Harold Reynolds last week on MLB Network.
“I’m doing great! I went down there to Fort Myers, Florida to work with the Red Sox staff. They were awesome. They got me back on my feet,” Montgomery said. “I’m moving around, feeling great again. Back up to sprinting, hitting and everything. Ready for the game plan.”
Last Wednesday, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox as part of a package for All-Star pitcher Garrett Crochet. Montgomery was dealt to the south side alongside Kyle Teel, Chase Meidroth and Wikelman González.
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Before even stepping on the field Braden Montgomery has been traded to the Chicago White Sox
The 2024 Texas A&M baseball team had a historic run ending the season as the College World Series runner-up after an exciting series against a great Tennessee Vols team.
A major reason for that run was because of Stanford transfer Braden Montgomery who came in and made an instant impact. Even with his season cut short due to injury he didn’t too down and was the biggest cheerleader for the team. Before his injury, he was on pace to hit over 30 home runs and 90+ RBIs ranking him as the top overall performer on the Aggies team.
There was some hope that Montgomery might return to A&M for his senior year, however, as an expected high first-rounder coming back realistically didn’t make sense. Montgomery was drafted by the Boston Red Sox with the 12th pick of the first round becoming one of the highest picks in the school’s history.
On Dec. 11, approximately five months after the draft and before even touching the field it was announced that Montgomery was part of a five-person trade that sent him and three others from the Red Sox to the Chicago White Sox for Garrett Crochet. No matter where he is once he finally takes the field, I’m willing to bet he will be just as impactful as he was in the Maroon & White.
The #WhiteSox have acquired Top 100 prospects Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery from the Red Sox as the headlining return of the Garrett Crochet deal, per multiple reports.
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Chicago trades former Vol baseball pitcher Garrett Crochet.
Former Tennessee baseball pitcher Garrett Crochet was traded on Wednesday.
The White Sox traded Crochet to Boston for catcher Kyle Teel (No. 25 overall prospect), outfielder Braden Montgomery (No. 54 overall), infielder Chase Meidroth (Boston’s No. 11 prospect) and Wikelman Gonzalez (Boston’s No. 14 prospect).
The former Vol (6-12) recorded 209 strikeouts and a 3.58 ERA in 2024 for Chicago.
Crochet was selected by the White Sox in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft (No. 11 overall).
He played for the Vols from 2018-20, appearing in 36 games. Crochet (10-9) recorded 149 strikeouts during his career at Tennessee.
The former Vol went to Tennessee from Ocean Springs High School in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Crochet was selected by Milwaukee in the 34th round of the 2017 MLB draft. He signed with the Vols over Texas and Tulane.
If this sounds a bit familiar, you’re not mistaken. On December 6, 2016, the Red Sox acquired Chris Sale from the White Sox for Yoán Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe and Víctor Díaz.
The deal worked out better for Boston than Chicago. The Red Sox won the World Series in 2018 with a rotation led by Sale. The White Sox only saw meaningful contributions from Kopech and Moncada in the bigs. However Moncada’s contract option was declined for 2025 after playing just 12 games last season. Kopech was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at last summer’s deadline and wound up winning a World Series.
Which means the Red Sox unequivocally won the Sale trade. Who won the Crochet trade? Let’s take a look:
The trade, per reports
Red Sox get: Starting Pitcher Garrett Crochet
White Sox get: Catcher Kyle Teel, Outfielder Braden Montgomery, Infielder Chase Meidroth and RHP Wikelman Gonzalez
The Chicago White Sox will be receiving four prospects from the Boston Red Sox, all of whom are highly regarded, sources tell ESPN. It's a big return for Chicago, but for a pitcher like Crochet — an ace-level starter with two years of cheap control — that's the price to pay.
Let’s start with the obvious: After missing out on Soto, Fried and Willy Adames, the Red Sox were under immense pressure to make a big splash this offseason and were running out of opportunities to do so.
That’s motivation enough to go out and overspend on Crochet, who in his age 25 season — and his first as a starter — was a revelation for Chicago. The lefty twirled 146 innings with an ERA of 3.58 and a WHIP of 1.068 to pair with 209 strikeouts, 33 walks and a 2.69 FIP.
But perhaps the most enticing part of Crochet is the fact he is still arbitration eligible for two more seasons before he can become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. That not only gives Boston a frontline starter for two seasons, but allows it to negotiate an extension. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a new deal for Crochet sooner than later, and a White Sox team coming off an all-time MLB-worst 121 losses certainly had no use for that type of financial flexibility beyond Crochet’s trade value.
This will all boil down to whether or not the Red Sox are capable of finishing off their rebuild in the next few years. Boston hasn’t made the postseason since 2021. It finished third in the American League East in 2024 after consecutive fifth-place finishes. The Yankees and Baltimore Orioles’ rosters remain years ahead of Boston’s. The Red Sox, however, did have a stockpile of elite prospects and rather than attempt to finish out a rebuild before spending, the front office decided to speed things up by shipping out some of their best young players for an elite starter.
It’s a risky gamble if Boston is unable to fill out the rest of it’s team with similar talent, but one the Red Sox backed themselves into. Years of middling results have left the team (and fans) restless. This deal has potential to either speed things up or drastically backfire depending on what Boston does next.
GRADE: B-
White Sox Grade
Jul 13, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; American League Future catcher Kyle Teel (10) hits a double during the fifth inning against the American League Future team during the Major league All-Star Futures game at Globe Life Field. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
Trading Crochet this offseason was a given. He simply holds too much value on a franchise that has no use for it. After the White Sox held out on trading him at the deadline, the Winter Meetings was the next most-likely timeframe for a deal to get done.
Chicago won’t go from 121 losses to a respectable opponent in one offseason without spending like it never has before. Instead, the White Sox are looking at another years-long rebuild with a finish line too far away to even make out at this point.
After trading Sale to Boston in 2016 — signaling the tear down of that White Sox core — it took another four years before Chicago reached the postseason, and even then it took a third-place AL Central finish after the pandemic-shortened 60-game season to get there.
We can probably ballpark just how long the White Sox believe this rebuild will take given the prospects the Red Sox are sending back for Crochet. Here are the estimated time of arrivals in the Major Leagues for all the players coming back to Chicago, per MLB Pipeline:
No. 4 Prospect: Kyle Teel (ETA 2025)
No. 5 Prospect: Braden Montgomery (ETA 2027)
No. 11 Prospect: Chase Meidroth (ETA 2025)
No. 14 Prospect: Wikelman Gonzalez (ETA 2025)
Keep in mind, the youngest of these prospects are 22 years old. They will still need time to develop in the big leagues, which is something Chicago hasn’t done all too well recently. The team also has no incentive to rush any of these prospects through the farm system given how bad the major league team is. There is no incentive to start the clock on their MLB service time yet.
Which means we’re in for another round of the White Sox selling its fans on a future that may never materialize, but that’s also nothing new for this organization (or Sox fans).
Without knowing what else the Sox were offered from other teams, it’s hard to fully judge the return. What we do know is that the White Sox got a ton of high-end talent.
Much like with the Sale trade, getting a big return was never going to be a problem. Now the hard part begins.
The Yankees and Mets are the favorites but not the only options.
New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto is the biggest star available in the MLB and fans are eagerly awaiting to find out where he will sign.
After helping lead the Yankees to win the American League before falling short to the Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, the 26-year-old outfielder and former National League batting champion will have a robust market awaiting him.
While it is unclear if he will sign the most lucrative contract in baseball history, it is possible that his deal could at least approach that territory or potentially reach its own milestone.
After meeting with a handful of teams around the league, here are the latest rumors about Soto and how he could fit with the top suitors.
New York Yankees
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner described it as a “good meeting” and called signing Soto a “priority” for their offseason, per The Athletic. Steinbrenner, however, has previously called New York’s payroll “not sustainable” and the organization is also reportedly prepared for scenarios in which the slugger does not re-sign with the franchise.
For what it is worth, though, 12 out of the 18 MLB executives polled by ESPN’s Jesse Rogers believed Soto will remain with the Yankees.
New York Mets
Perhaps the most likely spoiler for the Yankees is their crosstown rival in New York. As we wrote earlier this month, Soto is getting recruited to the Mets by Francisco Lindor.
The Mets are reportedly willing to spend $50 million more than any other team in this free agency pursuit, per Yankees announcer Michael Kay. He is currently expected to take the biggest offer with the most money and most years, per The Athletic, which makes the Mets a very likely option thanks to owner Steve Cohen.
Los Angeles Dodgers
According to his agent, Soto’s biggest priority is winning. If that is the case, he will have the best chance to do so in Los Angeles. There are some reports that Soto prefers to play on the East Coast, but New York Post reporter Jon Heyman said a confidant “downplayed” the importance of geography in this decision.
However, per The Athletic, it would reportedly be “seen as an upset in the industry” if Soto does not sign with one of the two teams in New York. ESPN’s Jeff Passan added that the Dodgers “won’t chase after” Soto after the organization landed Shohei Ohtani.
San Francisco Giants
San Francisco is reportedly one of the mystery teams for Soto and have a “legit” chance to get him, per Heyman. The organization reportedly tried to trade for him last year before the Padres eventually dealt him to the Yankees, and they were one of the only front offices to actually offer $700 million to Ohtani in 2023 as well.
San Francisco, however, is expected to reduce payroll next season so signing Soto is antithetical to that route.
Toronto Blue Jays
One player who shares an agent with Soto reportedly said the Blue Jays are prepared to make an “astronomical” offer to Soto, per NJ.com. Much like the Giants, the franchise tried to trade for the slugger and also made an offer for Ohatani last season but came up short on both. Passan reported that Toronto is “serious” about trying to sign Soto.
However, as noted by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, would it even make sense to try to secure Soto before even having Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette signed to long-term contract extensions?
Boston Red Sox
Boston is another organization with Soto at the “top of its want list” this offseason, per Passan. Like the Blue Jays, the Red Sox are reportedly also chasing all of the top pitchers available this offseason as well.
Soto was “impressed” by Boston’s presentation during their meeting, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic. But are they close enough to contending for him to actually sign there?
No meetings yet but possible suitors: Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres
FOX’s MLB panel includes host Kevin Burkhardt with former baseball legends Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter as well as David Ortiz.
Rodriguez and Jeter were famously teammates on the New York Yankees from 2004 until 2013, winning a World Series together in 2009. Ortiz, on the other hand, played for New York’s biggest rival on the Boston Red Sox.
He is a three-time World Series champion who famously helped pull off one of the biggest upsets in sports history when Boston miraculously came back from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 ALCS.
Ortiz hilariously continues to be a thorn in the side of Rodriguez and Jeter on FOX’s broadcast. Just watch his reaction to when the Yankees lost Game 3 of the 2024 MLB World Series against the Dodgers on Monday:
This is not the first time fans have seen this hilarious energy from Ortiz, though.
Earlier in the series, after Ice Cube performed before a Dodgers victory in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium, Ortiz declared it was a “good day” because the Yankees lost.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora might’ve had some NFL games to watch on Sunday because his afternoon at Fenway Park ended just in time for the early kickoff.
Heading into the season, MLB made interference calls around the bags a point of emphasis for umpires. Basically, the league wanted to legislate out of the game fielders blocking the bag with their legs. Still, it’s a seldom-called rule, and the selective enforcement understandably doesn’t sit well with most managers.
That’s exactly what happened during the first inning of the Red Sox-Twins game.
With the speedy Byron Buxton on second, Nick Pivetta threw over to the bag for a pick-off attempt. The play wasn’t close with Buxton returning safely. But Vaughn Grissom somewhat impeded Buxton with his leg.
Alex Cora was HEATED after this interference call in the first inning and was ejected pic.twitter.com/5KC43DowsN
Second base umpire Dan Merzel didn’t make the interference call, but a conversation with Alan Porter at third base had the crew ruling interference. Buxton was rewarded third base on the play, and Cora went into full tantrum mode.
No manager wants to get ejected in the first inning, but if it’s going to happen, might as well put on a show. Cora certainly did that.
Baseball has been around for so long that it’s truly a rare sight when something happens for the first time ever. And on Monday, we got just that with the Blue Jays and Red Sox.
Danny Jansen earned himself a spot as the ultimate baseball trivia answer.
Back on June 26, Jansen was the catcher for the Blue Jays when Toronto took on the Red Sox at Fenway Park. But weather would force a suspension of that game in the second inning with a make-up date set for Aug. 26. Yet, before those two months could pass, Jansen was traded to the Red Sox, which set up some MLB history.
Jansen would be the first MLB player to play for both teams in a single game, and even Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho had to laugh as he made his way to the plate to be a part of that history.
With this at-bat, Danny Jansen officially becomes the first player in MLB history to play for two different teams in the same game. 😮 pic.twitter.com/tO6dCtyQYd
MLB rules allowed for Jansen to play in the resumed game, which made that historical moment possible. Varsho was actually pinch hitting for Jansen and had to start the game with an 0-1 count. It was all so unusual.
No matter what happens, Jansen will remember that game for a long time — the weirdest of MLB history.
As you might recall: The Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays played in a game suspended by rain that was scheduled to resume on August 26. Between those dates, Jansen was dealt from the Blue Jays to the Red Sox. With Boston manager Alex Cora making it official that Jansen will sub in for Reese McGuire at catcher, he’ll make MLB history.
And here’s the wild scenario: Jansen was a the plate for the last game. Now, he’ll have to be pitch-hit for, AND he’ll be catching behind the plate for that moment. META!
When this game resumes on Monday, Danny Jansen, who was AT the plate for the Blue Jays when the game was suspended, will be BEHIND the plate for the Red Sox while a pinch-hitter takes over his PA…making him the first player in MLB history to play for both teams in the same game pic.twitter.com/Y0UMVakx6S
Alex Cora, @RedSox manager, has announced that on Monday, Danny Jansen will substitute in for Reese McGuire at catcher (who is not on the current roster) for the resumption of the 6/26 game with the @BlueJays), meaning he will not only become the first player… https://t.co/F7OfOA42f4
Jarren Duran and the Red Sox both issued statements after the incident.
Jarren Duran and the Boston Red Sox issued statements on Sunday with apologies after the outfielder audibly directed a homophobic slur towards a heckling fan.
During Sunday’s game between the Red Sox and the Houston Astros, NESN mics picked up Duran yelling a homophobic slur back at a fan who was heckling him in the stands during the bottom of the sixth inning. The Red Sox would go on to lose the game 10-2 to the Astros.
After the game, both Duran and the Red Sox released statements apologizing for the incident, with the team stating they have addressed the matter with the outfielder immediately after the game.
Red Sox issue statement from Jarren Duran, who used homophobic slur during today’s game directed at a fan. pic.twitter.com/CYFYxXmID6
“During tonight’s game, I used a truly horrific word when responding to a fan. I feel awful knowing how many people I offended and disappointed. I apologize to the entire Red Sox organization, but more importantly to the entire LGBTQ community. Our young fans are supposed to be able to look up to me as a role model, but tonight I fell far short of that responsibility. I will use this opportunity to educate myself and my teammates and to grow as a person.”
“The Red Sox addressed this incident with Jarren immediately following today’s game. We echo Jarren’s apology to our fans, especially to the LGBTQ community. We strive to be an organization that welcomes all fans to Fenway Park, and we will continue to educate our employees, players, coaches and staff on the importance of inclusivity.”
On Monday, Duran was officially suspended two games by the Red Sox for using the slur.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran has been suspended for two games after he uttered an anti-gay slur at a fan during Sunday’s game. His suspension will begin effective immediately and he’ll miss tonight’s game on ESPN against the Texas Rangers.
