The New York Mets’ aggressive approach to reshaping their roster this offseason has inevitably created a ripple effect, particularly for players on the margins of the organization. As the front office prioritizes adding impact talent at the major league level, difficult decisions follow, often involving players who have done little wrong but simply find themselves caught in a numbers crunch. One such case has emerged with right handed pitcher, whose brief stint in the organization has taken an unexpected turn before it ever truly began.
Earlier in the offseason, the Mets quietly added the right hander by claiming him off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. The move made sense at the time, as he offered rotation and bullpen depth and came with a unique side arm delivery that can be difficult for hitters to pick up. However, roughly six weeks later, circumstances have shifted. Following Wednesday night’s trade that brought Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to Queens, the Mets needed to clear space on their 40 man roster. As a result, Cooper Criswell was designated for assignment, placing him back on waivers and opening the door for another club to claim him, just as the Mets did in December.
If Criswell goes unclaimed, he will remain within the Mets organization and continue providing depth. Still, this situation highlights the unavoidable reality of roster management when a team is active on the trade market. High profile acquisitions, including the recent deal for center fielder Luis Robert Jr., often force teams to make tough calls on fringe players who may still hold value elsewhere.
The irony in this case is that Criswell never even had the chance to pitch for the Mets. At 29 years old, he brings legitimate big league experience. During the 2025 season with Boston, he appeared in seven games, logging 17.2 innings and posting a solid 3.57 ERA. Over the course of his major league career, which includes time with the Red Sox, Angels, and Rays, Criswell has thrown 154.2 innings with a 4.48 ERA.
He was also a reliable arm at the Triple A level last season, recording a 3.70 ERA across 65.2 innings for Worcester. That track record suggests he could be appealing to a pitching hungry team scanning the waiver wire. While the Mets would be happy to keep Criswell if he clears waivers, his combination of experience, effectiveness, and versatility may be enough to tempt another club into making a claim.