Padres trade deadline target reverses course after baffling contract demands

The San Diego Padres walked away from this year's MLB trade deadline with a much deeper bullpen. President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller swung a pair of deals to bolster San Diego's relief corps, and now Jason Adam and Tanner Scott are helping Robert Suarez lock down the final few innings when the Friars are holding the lead.

But while Preller can pat himself on the back for the tremendous upgrades to the back end of the Friars bullpen, there was also the one that got away. For Preller, that was Garrett Crochet. The Padres' top decision-maker was said to be enamored with the Chicago White Sox starter, and it was assumed by many that Crochet would be wearing the brown and gold after July 30.

But the MLB trade deadline came and went and Crochet is still stuck on the South Side of Chicago. Not only did San Diego not land the southpaw, but neither did any other postseason contender.

Padres trade deadline target Garrett Crochet reverses course after baffling contract demands

But if Pads fans will allow their minds to reminisce on all the chatter surrounding Crochet, they'll remember that making a deal for the White Sox ace wasn't just as easy as packaging together several top prospects and giving GM Chris Getz a call.

Crochet demanded that a contract extension (and a guaranteed spot in the starting rotation) be included in any potential trade, and if it wasn't, the lefty claimed that he'd refuse to pitch in the postseason. But according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Crochet will finish the season in the White Sox rotation. That's somewhat surprising, seeing as how he has more than doubled his previous career high in innings pitched and isn't guaranteed a contract beyond this season.

Crochet is making $800,000 this season and will receive a raise through the arbitration process both next winter and the following offseason. Crochet obviously wanted to capitalize on his best season to date, and demanded a long-term deal be part of any potential trade.

Unsurprisingly, this torpedoed Crochet's trade value, as numerous GMs and owners were keen on adding the left-hander to their rotation, in part, because he wouldn't break the bank. Trade talks eventually collapsed, but there's no doubt that Crochet will be a hot name once again this offseason. Don't be shocked if Preller and the Padres come calling once again when this year's MLB Winter Meetings heat up in December.

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