The Boston Red Sox believe their way back to the World Series will begin with a youth movement on the mound.
They are hopeful their latest move is a step in that direction.
Boston and ace left-hander Garrett Crochet announced an agreement Tuesday for a record-breaking $170 million, six-year contract.
The contract starts next year, and Crochet can opt out after the 2030 season. The deal, announced by the team Tuesday, is the largest for a pitcher with four-plus years of major league service.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow acknowledged Tuesday that he thought there was a “decent possibility” they wouldn’t be able to come to terms on a deal until next offseason.
“It’s hard because you don’t really know how close you are until you see where things end up,” Breslow said. “Obviously when we acquired the talent, it was very easy to dream about having that type of talent in a Red Sox uniform deep into the future.”
Crochet gets a $4 million signing bonus payable within 60 days of the deal's approval by Major League Baseball, $24 million in 2026, $28 million in each of the following four seasons and $30 million in 2031. Boston has a conditional team option for 2032 at $15 million if Crochet is on the injured list for 120 or more consecutive days during the major league season from 2026-31 due to a left arm injury.
If the condition for the team option is not met by the end of the 2030 season, Crochet may opt out of the remainder of the deal.
His base salaries for 2027-31 can increase based on Cy Young Award voting in the immediately previous season: $2 million for winning, $1.5 million for finishing second or third in the voting, $1 million for fourth or fifth and $500,000 for sixth through 10th.
The 25-year-old would have been eligible for free agency after the 2026 season. He was acquired by Boston in a trade with the Chicago White Sox during the winter meetings in December and agreed to a $3.8 million, one-year contract for this season.
He made his Red Sox debut on opening day, pitching five innings of two-run ball and departing with a no-decision in the team's 5-2 victory at Texas. He takes the mound again on Wednesday night at Baltimore.
Crochet went 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA in 32 starts last year for a White Sox team that went 41-121. He was picked for the AL All-Star team in his first season as a starter. Though last year was his only previous major league season as a starter, Breslow said it wasn't a deterrent in making a long-term commitment to him.
“There’s always risks associated with these types of contracts. We recognize that," Breslow said. "At the same time, we’re talking about an elite starting pitcher who’s 25 years old and someone we believe will continue to develop and whose best days are ahead of him. ... We’re looking not only at what he has done, but what he’s going to be able to do.”
Selected 11th overall by Chicago in the 2020 amateur draft, Crochet made his big league debut that September. He had a 2.82 ERA in 2021 while striking out 65 in 54 1/3 innings, then had Tommy John surgery on April 5, 2022. He didn’t return to the major leagues until May 18, 2023.
Crochet’s sinker averaged 97.9 mph last season and his four-seam fastball 97.2 mph. He also throws a cutter, sweeper and changeup.
Breslow hopes Crochet's new deal is the latest pillar in putting the Red Sox back on a championship path.
“I think it further cements where we are in terms of our competitive window," Breslow said.
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Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet throws to the Texas Rangers in the first inning of an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.
Ovechkin has 892 goals and needs two to tie and three to break the record.
Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking the regular-season record by “The Great One” that had long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. He missed 16 games but resumed his pursuit at Toronto in the Capitals' first game out of the Christmas break.
On a 5-on-3 power play late in the second period Wednesday night at Carolina, Ovechkin took a pass from Jakob Chychrun and fired from the left faceoff circle past Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen for No. 892.
Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals and shots on goal.
He also has 135 game-winning goals, tied for the most with Jaromir Jagr. Ovechkin has scored on 182 different goaltenders, breaking Jagr's record by beating Leevi Merilainen of the Senators with No. 874. Ovechkin has 178 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).
Ovechkin earlier this season became the 60th player to record 700 career assists. He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists.
Ovechkin, after climbing past Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jagr (766), scored goal No. 802 on Dec. 23, 2022, to move into second behind Gretzky (894).
Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Howe. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons.
Gretzky holds 55 NHL records and even if his goals mark falls to Ovechkin — which he has said he is excited about — two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined.
For NHL playoff goals, which do not count toward the record, Gretzky has the most (122). Ovechkin has 72. Gretzky also had another 56 in the World Hockey Association regular season and playoffs, while Ovechkin has 57 from his time in the Russia-based KHL.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) passes the puck past Winnipeg Jets' Colin Miller (6) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) takes a shot on Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the second period of their NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Fred Greenslade/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) and Florida Panthers defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) battle for position during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin takes to the ice to warm up before an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
