ARLINGTON, Texas — Barring an unexpected change of circumstance, it appears there will be no deal on a long-term contract extension between the Red Sox and Garrett Crochet until after the season.

The Red Sox and Crochet were not able to reach an agreement prior to the left-hander’s self-imposed Opening Day deadline. Crochet indicated earlier this week he didn’t expect a deal to get done, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said prior to Thursday’s game that the club would respect his desire to table talks.

“Right now Garrett is getting ready to throw the first pitch of the 2025 season, and I think he’s been outspoken about wanting to table conversations and be able to focus on the season,” Breslow said. “We absolutely want to respect that and we’re super excited about what he’s going do for us.”

The Red Sox acquired Crochet in a blockbuster trade this past December, dealing away four prospects, including the club’s last two first-round picks, Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery. Crochet has two years of team control remaining but is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2026 season.

Crochet is currently slated to earn $3.8 million in 2025.

A long-term extension would have had pros and cons for both sides. For Crochet, a long-term deal would have provided financial security no matter how he performs in the future, but if he stays healthy and posts a Cy Young-caliber season, he risked locking himself into a below-market contract. For the Red Sox, a deal now could have blown up in their face if Crochet got hurt or if he took a significant step back, but if he pitches well then the cost to sign him will rise significantly next winter.

Breslow declined to comment on how close the two sides were to an agreement this spring, but he indicated that the Red Sox remain hopeful a deal can be reached eventually.

“I think out of respect for Garrett and the conversations those will remain between us. I think where we are today is super excited that we’ve got a legitimate ace that’s going to take the mound and we’re going to see dominant stuff,” Breslow said. “I think I’ve maintained throughout the offseason that it’s a really important part of our strategy to identify players that can be part of the long-term success here, and when we find those we’ll do everything we can to keep them here.”