The Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are reportedly in the mix to acquire pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in an offseason trade.

According to MLB Network's Jon Morosi, the Cubs and Reds are both "viable candidates" to land the 2024 All-Star.

After serving exclusively as a reliever over his first three MLB seasons, the 25-year-old Crochet had a breakout year as a starter in 2024, emerging as one of the few bright spots for a White Sox team that was one of the worst in league history with a 41-121 record.

Making 32 starts, Crochet went 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 209 strikeouts over 146 innings pitched.

There was plenty of smoke regarding a Crochet trade leading up to last season's deadline, but once the White Sox decided to hang onto him, they put him on a strict pitch count for the remainder of his starts.

Despite limiting his pitches and innings, Crochet's 146 innings pitched last season were a career high by far. His previous career high at the Major League level was 54.1 innings, all of which came out of the bullpen.

The 2020 No. 11 overall draft pick missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery before returning to appear in 13 MLB games in 2023.

After showing last season that he could handle a larger workload—and now being another year removed from Tommy John—Crochet could be in line for a huge leap forward in 2025.

In 2024, the Cubs went 83-79 for a second consecutive season, and they have now gone four straight years without a playoff appearance.

Starting pitching was one of the Cubs' greatest strengths last season, as Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad all posted a sub-4.00 ERA.

The Cubs already signed Matt Boyd to a two-year, $29 million contract in free agency this offseason, so while starting pitching is far from a major need, Crochet would give them arguably the deepest and best starting rotation in the league.

As for the Reds, they went 77-85 last season and have missed the playoffs four years in a row, much like the Cubs.

The Reds have some young, high-end starting pitching talent with Hunter Greene leading the way, followed by Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Rhett Lowder and others.

While Cincinnati lost veteran starter Frankie Montas in free agency, it re-signed Nick Martinez with the apparent intent of making him a full-time starter, and it also acquired starter Brady Singer in a trade that sent infielder Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals.

Greene, Singer, Martinez, Lodolo, Abbott, Lowder and Graham Ashcraft give the Reds no shortage of solid starting pitching options, but Crochet could provide an upgrade, especially if at least one of those pitchers is part of a trade package going back to the White Sox.

Crochet is young, has electric stuff and hasn't yet come close to reaching his potential, so while the Cubs and Reds are two teams that appear to be in on him, it is likely that there are several other contenders in the mix to make a deal for Crochet as well.