10. St. Louis Cardinals
Record: 31-34, 5th in NL Central
Current Rotation: RHP Sonny Gray, RHP Lance Lynn, RHP Kyle Gibson, RHP Andre Pallante, RHP Miles Mikolas
Bowden wrote the Cardinals "plan on buying" this summer, and they're otherwise worth considering because their starting pitchers rank last in MLB in rWAR. But they're also in last place in the NL Central, so a big splash on Crochet is likely a reach.
9. Houston Astros
Record: 31-37, 3rd in AL West
Current Rotation: LHP Framber Valdez, RHP Hunter Brown, RHP Justin Verlander, RHP Spencer Arrighetti, RHP Ronel Blanco
With Cristian Javier and José Urquidy done for the year after Tommy John surgery, an already vulnerable Astros rotation is looking even worse off. But with only one top-100 prospect in their system, Houston doesn't exactly have the wares to deal for Crochet.
8. New York Yankees
Record: 48-21, 1st in AL East
Current Rotation: LHP Carlos Rodón, RHP Marcus Stroman, RHP Cody Poteet, LHP Nestor Cortes, RHP Luis Gil
Garrett and Gerrit? That has a nice ring to it, and pairing Gerrit Cole with Crochet would allow the Yankees to steel their rotation against regression from its AL-leading 2.78 ERA. But unless more hurlers join Clarke Schmidt on the IL, another starter isn't necessarily a priority.
7. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 42-26, 1st in NL West
Current Rotation: RHP Tyler Glasnow, LHP James Paxton, RHP Walker Buehler, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP Gavin Stone
The Dodgers could simply wait for Bobby Miller and Clayton Kershaw to get healthy, or they could go for broke and really solidify their rotation for October by dealing for Crochet. A fine idea, if I do say so myself, but the Dodgers need bats and relievers more.
6. Atlanta
Record: 35-29, 2nd in NL East
Current Rotation: RHP Reynaldo López, LHP Chris Sale, RHP Charlie Morton, RHP Hurston Waldrep, LHP Max Fried, RHP Spencer Schwellenbach
Atlanta's rotation has done a fine job of weathering Spencer Strider's season-ending elbow injury, but there remains the question of how much more there is to get from López, Sale and Morton. And yet, let's just say a replacement for Ronald Acuña Jr. is a greater need.
