Garrett Crochet hasn't thrown a pitch for the Red Sox since late April. An injury has kept him sidelined through the summer, and Boston's stretch run is approaching with questions about whether their ace can return in time.
Crochet is open to pitching out of the bullpen if he does come back this season. That's a significant shift from his role as a starter, but it's the flexibility a contending team needs down the stretch. The Red Sox rotation needs help, but so does the bullpen. If Crochet can only handle limited innings early in his return, relieving gives Boston options without forcing him into a full workload too quickly.
The real question remains health. Late April to now is a long layoff for any pitcher, especially one expected to shoulder ace-level responsibility. The Red Sox haven't indicated a timeline for his return, which suggests the injury carries some complexity. Getting Crochet back at any capacity, in any role, would be a boost. Getting him fully healthy is what actually matters.