Garrett Crochet’s Potential Bullpen Role as Boston Seeks Playoff Edge

Boston’s interim manager Chad Tracy has signaled that the club could shift left-hander Garrett Crochet from a starter-track to the bullpen if his health permits. The idea surfaced while the Red Sox ride an eight-game winning streak and aim to solidify a deep postseason run.

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Crochet entered the 2026 season on a six-year, $170 million extension after posting a 2.59 ERA and 255 strikeouts in 205 1/3 innings for Boston in 2025, earning AL Cy Young runner-up honors. He began the year on the injured list with left-shoulder inflammation, later compounded by a lat setback. Sources differ on the exact IL start date—one report cites April 19, 2026, while another notes his last major-league appearance on April 25, 2026. Since then, Crochet has resumed light throwing at 50-60 feet and is “trending in the right direction,” according to a Sports Illustrated account.

Chad Tracy on Ace Garrett Crochet Potentially Joining Red Sox Bullpen: 'We’d Be Foolish Not to Consider That'

• 2025 season (Boston): 2.59 ERA, 255 K in 205 1/3 IP.

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• 2026 to date: 3-3 record, 6.30 ERA, 37 K in 30 IP, 1.47 WHIP.

Chad Tracy on Ace Garrett Crochet Potentially Joining Red Sox Bullpen: 'We’d Be Foolish Not to Consider That'

• Red Sox bullpen: 2.89 ERA, the best in MLB (Sports Illustrated).

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• Closest rival: New York Yankees bullpen ERA 3.11 (Sports Illustrated).

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• Reliever Brayan Bello: 0.48 ERA in five recent outings.

Sports Illustrated

• Recent acquisition: Reliever Erik Miller, 2.57 ERA in 40 appearances with San Francisco (Sports Illustrated).

Sports Illustrated

Interim manager Chad Tracy said the club would be “foolish” to ignore Crochet if he proves healthy and effective, noting that a six-inning stretch by season’s end is “probably not feasible.” Crochet himself expressed a willingness to help in any capacity, emphasizing a team-first mindset and lack of ego about a potential bullpen role. He added that three months on the sidelines have only increased his hunger to contribute.

Chad Tracy on Ace Garrett Crochet Potentially Joining Red Sox Bullpen: 'We’d Be Foolish Not to Consider That'

• Injury-list entry: The Boston Globe’s Tim Healey reported the IL move on April 19, 2026, whereas Sports Illustrated references Crochet’s last start on April 25, 2026. Both dates are documented, but the precise IL activation remains unclear.

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• Timeline for a bullpen debut: No outlet provides a concrete date for when Crochet might appear in relief, leaving the timeline speculative.

Chad Tracy on Ace Garrett Crochet Potentially Joining Red Sox Bullpen: 'We’d Be Foolish Not to Consider That'

• “If he’s healthy and right, and he looks like Garrett Crochet, I think we’d be foolish not to consider that,” — Chad Tracy, interim manager

Chad Tracy on Ace Garrett Crochet Potentially Joining Red Sox Bullpen: 'We’d Be Foolish Not to Consider That'

• “I do feel good about it,” — Garrett Crochet

Chad Tracy on Ace Garrett Crochet Potentially Joining Red Sox Bullpen: 'We’d Be Foolish Not to Consider That'

• “There’s no ego about it. It’s something I’ve done before,” — Garrett Crochet

Chad Tracy on Ace Garrett Crochet Potentially Joining Red Sox Bullpen: 'We’d Be Foolish Not to Consider That'

These statements capture the managerial openness to a role change and Crochet’s personal readiness to contribute, underscoring the collaborative tone shaping Boston’s late-season strategy.

Sports Illustrated