FORT MYERS, Fla. — Garrett Crochet is going to be the ace of the Boston Red Sox’s pitching staff for 2025, and perhaps for years to come. But before Sox fans begin the parade and set off the fireworks, let’s have a heart-to-heart as to what an “ace” actually is.

“Ace” is a topsy-turvy slab of baseball jargon whose definition is often determined by whomever is using it. See, people often refer to a team’s No. 1 pitcher as the “ace,” which isn’t necessarily accurate. Every team has a No. 1 starter, but not every No. 1 starter is an ace. Got that?

And then there was that well-intentioned attempt in 2015 by then-Red Sox manager John Farrell to define “ace” status in a way that made it sound like he was handing out participation trophies. Speaking with reporters one morning during spring training, Farrell explained that an ace “is the guy on the mound that night.” Farrell then did the ace/No. 1 starter thing, saying, “I’m not overly concerned some might think we don’t have a No. 1. I think we have five No. 1s.”

Funny thing is, the current Red Sox manager, Alex Cora, could be excused if he resurrected that quote. With newcomers Crochet and Walker Buehler joining holdovers Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck and Lucas Giolito (who missed all last season), this is potentially the best starting pitching depth the Red Sox have had since the 2018 World Series run. Nobody believes the Red Sox have five — or heaven help us, six — No. 1 starters, but it does speak to the pitching depth acquired by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow.

Yes, the Red Sox could open the season with a six-man rotation. But, no, they do not have six aces — not even on the days they are pitching. But, yes, yes, by all means yes, it looks like they do have that for-real ace. And we’re talking about you, Garrett Crochet. Breslow acquired the lefty from the Chicago White Sox in December for three minor-leaguers, notably top catching prospect Kyle Teel. Crochet was making the transition from the bullpen to the rotation last season, and in 32 starts, he allowed just 123 hits in 146 innings. He registered 209 strikeouts against just 33 walks. Crochet was also the 2024 recipient of my totally made-up Won-Loss Records Don’t Tell the Whole Story Award: He was 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA for the ChiSox, who went 41-121. (I’ll pause here to make the snarky observation that the people who are asking how a guy who won just six games last season could possibly be considered an ace are probably the same people who in 2004 were grumbling that the newly-acquired Curt Schilling went a measly 8-9 for the 2003 Arizona Diamondbacks. The Big Schill went 21-6 for the 2004 Red Sox, followed by his bloody-sock heroics in the postseason. Not bad for a guy coming off an 8-9 season.)

The whiz kids who work in baseball ops for the Red Sox probably don’t care if the team has an ace. What’s more important to them is that they assemble a cast of hard-throwing masters of spin control, and it looks like they’ve been successful in that pursuit. But while it’s not the job of the people in baseball ops to sell tickets and fatten the television and radio ratings, it does help to have a team that’s … fun.

Outfielder Jarren Duran was fun last year. So, too, was outfielder Wilyer Abreu, who I happen to think is one of the most underrated players in the game. Infielder/outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela was also fun, but more fun in the outfield.

Having an ace is lots of fun, and the Red Sox haven’t really had one since lefty Chris Sale began to fall apart after coming in from the bullpen to register a championship-clinching strikeout of Manny Machado at Dodger Stadium in Game 5 of the 2018 World Series. Sale was everything you want in an ace, and he inspired Sox fans to always know when his next start would be. It was like that when Roger Clemens and Pedro Martinez were with the Red Sox. In 2004, it was like that for Martinez and Schilling. (Can a team have two aces?) Jon Lester was an ace, especially in the postseason, and Josh Beckett was an ace for a season and change.

Crochet can be that guy. He loves the Boston baseball market, which means he understands the fan base, which means he wants to be that guy — even if he’s only signed through 2026, and, well, these are the Red Sox. You know … Mookie Betts and all that.

“As soon as I was traded to the Red Sox, I knew this was a place I could see myself at long-term,” Crochet said Wednesday. “I think when you talk about a storied franchise like this one, it’s one that any player would be lucky to call home.”

He deflected questions about a contract extension to his agent, as any on-the-ball-athlete should. He did say his Boston tenure “isn’t exactly fully in my hands,” but then followed up with this observation: “I (was) seeing the big picture as soon as the trade went through.

“With last year being my first taste of starting, part of me wants to see what I can do with a full season of innings workload,” he added.

"As soon as I was traded to the Red Sox, I knew this was a place I could see myself long term… it's one that any player would be lucky to call home."

The Red Sox have never pronounced Crochet as their ace. It doesn’t work that way. Ace status, like power, is never given. It’s taken.

Besides, it’s possible someone else could reach out and grab the ace status. Buehler was only 1-6 (there we go with the won-loss records again) with the 2024 Dodgers, but he’s had some monster seasons and is only 30. Remember, he’s the guy who pitched seven shutout innings against the Red Sox in Game 3 of the 2018 World Series, coming out of it with a no-decision in an epic battle won by the Dodgers in 18 innings. Remember, too, that Buehler closed out the clinching game of the World Series last fall at Yankee Stadium by striking out Alex Verdugo.

Buehler is a pitcher who is thinking big picture. “To have a big-boy rotation, you have to develop guys as well, and I think with Houck and Bello and the guys they’ve acquired there are enough pitchers to put together a five- or six-man rotation,” he said. “We’re in a really good spot.”

Buehler is right. There’s depth.

There’s also an ace. The Red Sox are already a little more fun than they were a year ago.

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