Ouch! Talk about a rough start to the year. Cooper Criswell, a right-handed pitcher, is finding out just how quickly things can change in Major League Baseball. The New York Mets have just designated him for assignment (DFA). That basically means he's being removed from their 40-man roster.
Why the sudden change? Well, the Mets needed to make room after finalizing a trade. It was a two-for-two deal, and to make it all work, they needed an open spot because Jett Williams wasn't already on the 40-man roster. It's a common, albeit harsh, reality of roster management in the big leagues. Think of it like a game of musical chairs, and unfortunately, Criswell was left without a seat this time.
But here's where it gets controversial... This isn't even the first time this offseason that Criswell has been DFA'd after a trade! Talk about déjà vu. The Boston Red Sox, his previous team, squeezed him out after acquiring Jhostynxon Garcia and Johan Oviedo. The Mets then picked him up off waivers, giving him a fresh start. Now, they're in the same position – needing to either trade him or place him on waivers themselves. It’s a brutal cycle.
To add a little more context, Criswell and the Red Sox had previously agreed to an $800,000 contract early in the offseason. While that's a fully guaranteed salary, a little above the MLB minimum, it also, perhaps cynically, hinted at the possibility of this exact scenario. And this is the part most people miss... Teams are increasingly working out these slightly-above-minimum deals with players they might later need to remove from the 40-man roster. Why? The higher salary can act as a slight deterrent, making other teams less likely to claim the player off waivers. It’s a calculated risk, both for the team and the player.
Perhaps more importantly, it gives the player a financial incentive to accept a minor league assignment if he clears waivers. Criswell, at 29 years old, has been through this before. The Tampa Bay Rays outrighted him (removed him from the 40-man roster and sent him to the minor leagues) back in 2022. That previous outright means he now has the right to refuse future outright assignments. However, walking away from guaranteed money is a tough decision for any player, so the Mets are hoping he'll accept a Triple-A assignment if no other team claims him. This would allow them to keep him in their system as depth.
So, what kind of player are we talking about? Criswell had a pretty solid season in 2024, primarily in a swing role (meaning he could start or relieve). He pitched a career-high 99 1/3 innings with a 4.08 ERA (Earned Run Average, a key stat for pitchers). While he doesn't have overpowering velocity or a ton of strikeouts, he throws strikes consistently and induces a decent number of ground balls, which is always a plus. Last season, he didn’t get nearly as much opportunity in the big leagues, logging only 17 2/3 innings with a 3.57 ERA across seven appearances. The majority of his time was spent at Triple-A Worcester, where he posted a 3.70 ERA and an above-average 24.5% strikeout rate in 65 2/3 innings.
What does the future hold for Cooper Criswell? Will another team take a chance on him via waivers? Or will he accept a minor league assignment with the Mets and wait for another opportunity to return to the majors? It's a tough situation, showcasing the often-unforgiving nature of professional baseball. Do you think the Mets made the right call? Is it fair for players to be DFA'd so soon after signing contracts? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
