The Red Sox haven't been perfect in recent years.
However, using part of a great prospect bank to acquire Garrett Crochet, who signed a contract extension in town, should be considered a major success.
Can we even call this a stroke of genius?
At the time, I wondered why the Baltimore Orioles didn't get Hook. The club needed help on the mound and had plenty of youngsters.
I don't know if Hook was willing to sign a long-term contract with Baltimore… but we do know that at the 2024 deadline, he didn't want to make the playoffs without a contract extension. One might think that signing a long-term contract anywhere is not an impossible scenario.
And even if he said no to the Orioles, they kept him under their control for two years. It was something.
But now we also have to wonder why the Mets didn't acquire Captain Hook. Because according to Jon Heyman and Zach Scott, the former general manager in New York and the former manager in Boston, there have been discussions about it.
But because the price was too high (Brandon Sprout, Jett Williams, etc.), the Mets quickly backed out.
I understand where David is coming from and agree that developing your own pitch is the key to sustainable success. I guess I'm wondering where the bar is for defining sustainable success in this expanded postseason era.
– Zack Scott (@ZackScottSports) September 30, 2025
Scott, who managed the Mets for a time, would say yes to that. He knows Hook was open to a contract extension and doesn't believe the two prospects being discussed will become stars.
Interesting guy to watch.
I would seriously consider this, depending on what else they wanted to add. I think Jett will be a reliable everyday guy, but not an impact player, and I think Sproat will soften the blows.
– Zack Scott (@ZackScottSports) September 30, 2025
David Stearns is so used to managing a small market in Milwaukee (where prospects are more valuable because the Brewers can't afford their ambitions in free agency) that he passed up an opportunity to acquire one of the league's best players.
And it cost his Mets a playoff spot in 2025. Stearns will have to learn from this and say yes if the opportunity arises again in the next few years.
This content was created using artificial intelligence.
