The New York Mets have claimed right-handed pitcher Cooper Criswell off waivers from the Boston Red Sox, per ESPN’s Jorge Castillo. He was designated for assignment on Thursday.
Criswell debuted with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 and has spent time with both the Tampa Bay Rays and the Red Sox. He has a career 4.48 ERA and 1.44 WHIP as a big-leaguer while serving as both a starting pitcher and a high leverage reliever. In the majors last year, he threw 17 2/3 innings to a 3.57 ERA and 1.58 WHIP. In 65 2/3 innings in Triple-A, he pitched to a 3.70 ERA and 1.34 WHIP.
Criswell joins Robert Stock and Nick Burdi as former Red Sox pitchers acquired by the Mets so far this offseason. All three previously worked with new Mets pitching coach Justin Willard in Boston.
Criswell throws a changeup, a sinker, a cutter and a sweeper. His sweeper is arguably his best pitch with 2,562 RPM of spin and -17.8 inches of horizontal break. In Triple-A this year, that pitch generated a 42.6% whiff rate. His sinker averages 89.4 MPH, but he has jumped it up to 91.7 MPH out of the bullpen. In the majors, he generated a 33.3% chase rate across his pitches, led by his changeup at 44.2%.
Tim Healey of the Boston Globe reported that, “The Red Sox gave Cooper Criswell a larger-than-normal guaranteed 2026 salary in the hopes that it would help sneak him through waivers.” He is guaranteed to make $800k next season.
It is expected that Criswell will fit into a long relief/swingman-type role for the Mets, though he does have experience pitching in high-leverage situations as needed.
