Hold onto your hats, baseball fans, because the Seattle Mariners just made a move that could shake up their pitching game! In a surprising twist, the Mariners have snagged right-handed pitcher Cooper Criswell from the New York Mets for cash considerations, adding a seasoned arm to their starting rotation depth. But here's where it gets interesting: to make room for Criswell on the 40-man roster, the team designated left-hander Jhonathan Díaz for assignment, leaving fans wondering about the future of their pitching lineup.
Criswell, a 29-year-old Georgia native and University of North Carolina alum, isn’t new to the MLB stage. Since his debut in 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels, he’s pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox, bringing a wealth of experience to Seattle. His most impressive season? 2024, when he started 18 of 26 games for the Red Sox, finishing with a 4.08 ERA, 1.349 WHIP, and 73 strikeouts over 99 1/3 innings. But here’s the part most people miss: despite a solid 3.57 ERA in 2025, Criswell spent most of the season in Triple-A, raising questions about his consistency.
And this is where it gets controversial: the Mets, who claimed Criswell off waivers from Boston just last month, designated him for assignment after acquiring All-Star starter Freddy Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers. Was Criswell just a temporary placeholder, or is there more to the story? Is this a smart pickup for the Mariners, or are they settling for a pitcher who’s struggled to stay in the majors?
According to Statcast, Criswell’s arsenal includes a sinker around 89 mph, a cutter, a changeup, and a mid-70s sweeper. With Logan Evans and Emerson Hancock already on the 40-man roster, the Mariners now have a trio of potential reinforcements behind their usual five-man rotation. Plus, they reportedly inked former Texas Rangers starter Dane Dunning to a minor league deal this week, further bolstering their pitching options.
But let’s not forget the bigger picture: the Mariners are slated for 13 national TV games in 2026, meaning every move they make now could be under the spotlight next season. From landing four prospects on Baseball America’s top 100 to Félix Hernández’s historic Hall of Fame vote climb, the team is making waves. Yet, with Criswell’s addition, the question remains: are they building a championship-caliber roster, or just filling gaps?
What do you think? Is Cooper Criswell the missing piece for the Mariners, or is this just another roster move? Let us know in the comments—we want to hear your take!
