ARLINGTON, Texas – Garrett Crochet’s self-imposed deadline for talking about a contract extension came and went with no deal getting done.

But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t close.

Talking to WEEI.com just before Friday night’s game against the Rangers, Crochet explained that the night before his Opening Day start there was some thought he might be pitching with a new deal under his belt.

“I wasn’t quite sure. It was fairly down to the wire,” said Crochet, who told the team he had no interest in talking contract once Opening Day rolled around. “So I really wasn’t sure. It was just kind of waiting to hear. There was communication the entire time.”

Asked if the uncertainty went all the way to midnight Wednesday, he added, “Pretty much. It was just playing it by ear, to be honest.”

Crochet, who gave up two runs over five innings in his Red Sox debut, has two seasons left until he becomes eligible for free agency. Both the pitcher and the team made no secret throughout spring training that getting an extension in place was being discussed over recent weeks.

The 25-year-old said that the good part about the process was that he left the negotiations feeling that there wouldn’t be a large gap between the two sides once talks kicked back up.

“I never got that feeling,” said Crochet when asked he perceived the difference between the two sides to be sizable. “You would rather it be that way than have the conversation one time and it’s a large gap, where I’m over here thinking I’m a really good pitcher and there would be a gap, meaning they’re thinking you are less than you.”

Asked if it would be fair to say he will enter the next round of negotiations with the feeling of picking up where he left off, carrying the same optimism, Crochet said, “That’s definitely fair to say.”