Cooper

Criswell

Boston attempted to slide Criswell through waivers after acquiring Johan Oviedo from the Pirates earlier this week, but their attempt proved to be unsuccessful. The versatile 29-year-old has made 33 appearances (19 starts) for the Red Sox over the past two seasons, posting a 4.00 ERA across 117 innings. Expect him to function in a similar swingman role for the Mets.

Criswell loses his spot on Boston’s 40-man roster with the club acquiring pitchers Johan Oviedo and Tyler Samaniego from the Pirates. The 29-year-old righty has posted a respectable 4.00 ERA across 117 innings over 33 appearances (19 starts) for the Red Sox over the past two seasons. He figures to attract some interest on waivers as a serviceable emergency innings-eater in a swingman-type role.

Criswell, 29, had a 4.08 ERA in 18 starts and eight relief appearances for Boston in 2024, but he spent most of 2025 in Triple-A and also missed some time. The thinking was that he might be bumped from the 40-man this winter, and that’s still a possibility, as the fully guaranteed contract would make it more likely that he’d clear waivers.

Criswell has been jettisoned back to the minors with trade acquisition Dustin May officially joining Boston’s active roster after hurling seven shutout innings on Friday in a spot start against the Astros. The 29-year-old swingman figures to return at some point later this month to bolster the Red Sox’ long relief depth.

Called up just a few days ago for this spot start, Criswell did everything he could to give his Red Sox a chance to win this game. His seven innings pitched tied a career-high and he was in complete control for this entire game besides a solo home run from Christian Walker that cleared the Green Monster. It is unclear if he’ll get another turn in the rotation after the addition of Dustin May at the trade deadline.

Criswell provides Boston’s overworked bullpen with some additional depth and a fresh arm following Monday’s bizarre series opener in Minnesota. The 29-year-old righty has posted a pedestrian 5.06 ERA across 10 2/3 innings (six appearances) this season at the highest level.

It’ll ostensibly be a bullpen game for the Red Sox as they opted to let Kyle Harrison make his scheduled start at Triple-A Worcester and also rolled with Brayan Bello during the resumption of Tuesday’s suspended game. Swingman Cooper Criswell — who has been called up as the 27th man for the twin bill — will be tasked with gobbling up most of the frames on Wednesday evening at Fenway Park during a bulk relief appearance following Bernardino’s opening effort.

Criswell has been a frequent traveler between Worcester and Boston, and the 28-year-old will head back to the minors to make room for Robert Stock to give Boston a fresh arm in their bullpen.

Criswell fits the mold of a modern-era swingman in the sense that he’s capable of gobbling up multiple innings as a bulk reliever or jump into the rotation at the moments notice for a traditional spot start. The 28-year-old provides Boston with some extra length out of the bullpen over the next few days after the club burned through several relievers during Monday’s series opener against the Angels.

Criswell provides the Red Sox with some additional long relief depth for Saturday’s twin bill at Fenway Park. The 28-year-old righty will head back to Triple-A Worcester at the conclusion of the nightcap.