BOSTON -- The idea of the Red Sox becoming legitimate contenders started to take shape on that day at last December’s Winter Meetings when ace Garrett Crochet was acquired from the White Sox for four prospects.
Six months later, the reality that Boston would find its way back to October for the first time since 2021 was enforced even more when sweet-swinging outfielder Roman Anthony, MLB’s No. 1 prospect at the time, received his much-anticipated callup to the Major Leagues.
On Monday, both players were named finalists for BBWAA Awards.
Crochet is one of three finalists for the American League Cy Young Award, joining last year’s winner in Detroit lefty Tarik Skubal and Astros righty Hunter Brown. The Cy Young Award for both leagues will be announced on Nov. 12 on MLB Network.
Though Anthony’s June callup and season-ending left oblique injury on Sept. 2 limited him to 71 games and 303 plate appearances, his body of work was impressive enough to put him alongside two players from the Athletics -- Nick Kurtz and Jacob WIlson -- as a finalist for the AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award. The winner will be announced on Nov. 10.
Not only did Crochet and Anthony make a big impact in Boston’s 89-win season in ‘25, but they both also committed to the organization with contracts that will keep them as headliners for the club for many years to come.
In the first week of the season, Crochet declined the opportunity to become a free agent by signing a six-year, $170 million contract that should keep him in Boston through 2031.
Anthony agreed to an eight-year, $130 million extension in August.
Given the way Crochet performed (7 2/3 innings, four hits, no walks, 11 strikeouts) in a 3-1 win against the Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium, it’s fair to wonder if the Sox would have secured that one more win they needed to advance to the AL Division Series had Anthony been in the lineup.
The Red Sox hope for many postseason appearances in the near future in which Crochet will lead the rotation and Anthony will be a cornerstone of the offense.
Crochet made 32 starts for Boston and proved to be the epitome of a stopper, going 18-5 with a 2.59 ERA and 255 strikeouts in 205 1/3 innings.
His most memorable regular-season outing came on July 12, when he fired his first career shutout while walking none and striking out nine against the Rays to extend Boston’s winning streak to nine games. The club would win a 10th straight game the next day, which sent manager Alex Cora’s team heading into the All-Star break with a surge of momentum.
While there was skepticism the Sox could stay in the race after dealing star slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants on June 15, the offense held up nicely, in large part due to the emergence of Anthony.
The 21-year-old left-handed hitter had a 3.1 bWAR, slashing .292/.396/.463 with 18 doubles, eight homers and 32 RBIs.