Mets Claim Cooper Criswell Off Waivers From Red Sox

"The Mets have claimed righty Cooper Criswell off waivers from the Red Sox, reports ESPN's Jorge Castillo. Boston designated him for assignment just yesterday as a corresponding move after acquiring Johan Oviedo from the Pirates. (Boston needed 40-man spots for both Oviedo and minor league lefty Tyler Samaniego.) The Mets have not yet announced the claim, but they currently have a pair of 40-man vacancies, so they won't need to make a corresponding move."

"As noted here at the time he signed, Boston's hope in doing so was likely that Criswell's lack of minor league options and a slightly higher-than-usual salary for a pre-arbitration player would help him pass through waivers so they could keep him as non-roster depth. That didn't work out for them, but we've increasingly seen clubs take this tactic with fringe 40-man players who lack minor league options as a means of attempting to bolster their stash of experienced players in the upper minors."

"The 29-year-old Criswell appeared in seven games for the Sox in 2025, logging 17 2/3 innings of 3.57 ERA ball but with only an 11.3% strikeout rate. He's totaled 154 2/3 innings across parts of five major league seasons and carries a career 4.48 ERA, 16.7% strikeout rate and 7.1% walk rate between the Angels, Rays and Red Sox. He also tossed 65 2/3 innings of 3.70 ERA ball for the Sox' Triple-A affiliate in Worcester this past season, working primarily as a starter."

The Mets claimed right-hander Cooper Criswell off waivers from the Red Sox after Boston designated him for assignment following acquisitions that required 40-man spots, including Johan Oviedo and Tyler Samaniego. The Mets held two 40-man vacancies and did not need a corresponding move. Boston had signed Criswell to a fully guaranteed $800,000 pre-arbitration deal, likely seeking to leverage his lack of minor-league options and higher salary to pass him through waivers as non-roster depth. Criswell, 29, logged seven MLB appearances in 2025 (17 2/3 innings, 3.57 ERA) and has a career 4.48 ERA across 154 2/3 major-league innings; he also threw 65 2/3 innings of 3.70 ERA at Triple-A Worcester, working mainly as a starter.

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