After trading for Garrett Crochet, the Boston Red Sox should feel comfortable signing him to a long-term extension.

While Crochet was excellent last season, there are question marks about his ability to pitch at the level he did in the future. It was his first season as a full-time starter, and in the second half, his stuff declined.

That’s worrisome and something the Red Sox have to consider, but they’re seemingly content with it after making a blockbuster deal for him.

But losing Crochet after trading for him wouldn’t make much sense. Unless the trade becomes a disaster, Boston has every reason to pay him.

Crochet isn’t set to hit free agency until 2027, so the Red Sox have some time.

When that time comes, Mike Axisa of CBS Sports believes he could be looking at a $150 million deal, an expensive price for a starter who hasn’t shown he’s elite in a big sample size.

“A six-year extension that pays him $10 million in 2026 (his final arbitration year) and then $25 million annually from 2027-31 (free agent years) would total $135 million. Add in a signing bonus and the buyout of an option year, and they could push the guaranteed money to $150 million,” Axisa wrote.

What Boston does will likely come down to how he throws over the next year. If he’s as dominant as he can be at times, expect the Red Sox to ink him to a long-term deal.