The New York Mets just dipped back into the pitching market, claiming right-hander Cooper Criswell off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. Honestly, it’s not a headline-grabbing move, but these are the quiet transactions that can sneakily shape a pitching staff over a long season.
Mets Claim Cooper Criswell: The Basics of the Move
This all started in Boston. The Red Sox designated Criswell for assignment after they picked up Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With Oviedo and minor league lefty Tyler Samaniego both needing spots on the 40-man roster, Criswell got squeezed out. The Mets, who had two open 40-man slots, jumped at the chance and claimed the 29-year-old righty without needing to shuffle anyone else around.
On paper, it’s a low-cost pickup with little drama. In reality, it’s a calculated move for depth, and if Criswell can stabilize the back end of the rotation or eat innings in relief, there’s potential upside.
Contract Details and Roster Implications
Criswell’s situation is a bit weird because of his contract and lack of minor league options. Boston had given him a fully guaranteed $800,000 deal for the 2026 season, which is affordable, but the lack of options complicates things.
The Red Sox figured that the guaranteed money and no ability to stash him in Triple-A might let him slip through waivers. The Mets didn’t mind the risk. For New York, adding a guaranteed but cheap arm fits right into their pitching strategy.
With room on the 40-man, they can hang onto a fringe depth piece now and let spring training and the early season sort out where he lands.
Cooper Criswell’s Track Record: What the Mets Are Getting
Criswell isn’t a power arm or a future ace. He’s more of a command-and-mix righty, carving out a role as a swingman—sometimes starting, sometimes coming out of the bullpen.
His recent work with Boston and his career numbers show he survives more on pitchability than pure stuff.
MLB Performance: Solid, Not Spectacular
With the Red Sox in 2025, Criswell pitched in seven games and logged 17 2/3 innings with a 3.57 ERA. The underlying stats tell a fuller story:
He relies on weak contact, sequencing, and precision. The low strikeout rates mean he doesn’t have much room for mistakes, but his walk rate suggests he doesn’t beat himself often.
Triple-A Success as a Starter
The Mets will definitely look at what Criswell did in Triple-A Worcester last season, where he mostly started. Over 65 2/3 innings, he posted a 3.70 ERA.
He can handle a decent workload and turn a lineup over more than once. That starter’s background adds value as a swingman—someone who can spot start, cover bulk innings after an opener, or handle long relief when the bullpen’s gassed.
How Criswell Fits the Mets’ Pitching Puzzle
Right now, Criswell projects as a depth arm, not a lock for the Opening Day roster. The Mets’ rotation has more established names, and that pecking order will shape his role.
If he sticks in Queens, expect him to fill a flexible role.
Competition and Role: Swingman on Standby
The Mets have a few arms ahead of Criswell in the rotation mix, including:
Criswell slots behind that group, probably fighting for a swingman role if he breaks camp with the big club. Since he’s out of minor league options, if he doesn’t make the final roster, the Mets would have to put him on waivers again to send him down.
Strategic Context: A Growing Trend in Roster Construction
Criswell’s acquisition isn’t some random move. It fits a bigger trend in how teams handle the edges of their 40-man roster.
Clubs have started claiming fringe 40-man players without minor league options to boost upper-level pitching depth. They’re basically betting that even marginal arms can offer value across a 162-game season.
For the Mets, this feels like a classic upside-without-drama play. Here’s what they get:
Kodai Senga’s name keeps popping up in trade rumors. Front offices keep shuffling depth through free agency and trades, so Criswell gives New York another lever to pull as the season rolls along.
Here is the source article for this story: Mets Claim Cooper Criswell Off Waivers From Red Sox
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