After the Boston Red Sox's recent sweep at the hands of the Detroit Tigers, the front office summoned some bullpen reinforcements from Triple-A Worcester.
The Red Sox have selected reliever Nick Burdi, first reported by Christopher Smith of MassLive. Cooper Criswell has been optioned to make room for him on the 40-man roster, and Kutter Crawford has been transferred to the 60-day injured list. The latter move doesn't have much, if any, effect on Crawford's 2025 debut timeline, since he's already been on the IL since Opening Day. He began throwing live batting practice and expects to be sent on a rehab assignment soon.
Burdi signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox over the offseason and has posted excellent numbers with the WooSox. He's clocked a 0.54 ERA with 25 strikeouts and five walks in 16.2 innings with two holds and three saves on three opportunities.
Burdi, 32, has appeared in parts of five MLB seasons with mixed results. He most recently suited up for the Yankees in 2024 and posted a 1.86 ERA with 12 strikeouts over 9.2 innings. New York placed him on the IL with hip inflammation in late May, and moved him to the 60-day IL in June after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection.
Red Sox call up reliever Nick Burdi, option Cooper Criswell and move Kutter Crawford to 60-day IL
Boston's bullpen needed a fresh arm after its two straight extra innings losses to the Tigers in Detroit on May 13 and 14. The Red Sox have lost an MLB-worst 12 one-run games and blown 11 saves, and a hot arm like Burdi could help the 'pen get back on track.
The Sox summoned Burdi hours before Chris Sale's return to Fenway Park after they traded him to the Braves last offseason. Garrett Crochet will take the mound to start for Boston in what is sure to be one of the rubber matches of the year so far. If Sale stymies the Red Sox's bats like the team's 416 strikeouts suggest he might, they'll need all the help they can get from the bullpen to break a three-game skid.