After trading franchise staples such as Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil and letting Edwin Díaz walk in free agency, the New York Mets have fully redeemed their offseason with their latest moves.
New York signed Bo Bichette after stealing him from their division rival Philadelphia Phillies, then traded for Freddy Peralta (and Tobias Myers) on January 21 to bring a new ace to their rotation. The Mets' 40-man roster was full at the time of the trade, and Boston Red Sox fans will recognize their chosen roster casualty.
The Mets have designated Cooper Criswell for assignment to accommodate one of their two new arms. Boston also DFA'd him earlier this winter to open a roster spot for then-new trade acquisition Johan Oviedo. New York claimed Criswell off waivers before he reached free agency and plenty of Sox fans were disappointed that he couldn't remain with the organization in Triple-A.
Criswell was a reliable rotation and bullpen depth option for the Red Sox during his two seasons with the club. Craig Breslow used his keen eye for pitching to sign him before the 2024 campaign and it was a shrewd move. Criswell posted a 4.00 ERA in 117 innings with the Sox, the majority of which came in 2024 when they dealt with many more pitcher injuries. He also fared well with the WooSox and clocked a 3.70 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 28 walks over 65.2 frames.
Mets designate former Red Sox depth pitcher Cooper Criswell for assignment after Freddy Peralta trade
Criswell's success varied with Boston but he had some heroic moments when it needed him most. Most recently, on August 1 — his last start with Boston — he pitched seven one-hit innings against the Astros, another team in the hunt for a playoff spot at the time.
It wasn't a surprise to see Criswell go to the Mets soon after the Red Sox DFA'd him. Justin Willard, Boston's former director of pitching, left the organization for a job in Queens early this offseason. Criswell is one of three former Sox pitchers the Mets have signed this winter, alongside Nick Burdi and Joe Jacques.
The Red Sox don't have any 40-man roster space to bring Criswell back after making Ranger Suárez's contract official. Maybe Boston can get him back on a minor league deal to strengthen the already-large pool of pitching depth it already has, but he could also be a coveted option around the league given his success with the Sox.