After a quiet start to the offseason, the New York Mets have been quite busy as of late. The most recent move the Mets made saw them acquire a frontline starting pitcher, Freddy Peralta, in a blockbuster trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. After losing several big-name players early in the offseason, adding a star like Peralta will surely help New York in the 2026 season and beyond.
With Peralta on board, though, the Mets needed to find a way to open up a roster spot for him. That led to veteran pitcher Cooper Criswell, who was picked up earlier this offseason, getting designated for assignment. While New York could have lost him for nothing, it ended up finding a willing trade partner for Criswell in the Seattle Mariners.
Mets Trade Cooper Criswell to the Mariners
With Milwaukee unsure of whether or not it would be able to sign Peralta to a long-term contract extension, he quickly emerged as one of the top trade targets across the league this offseason. It cost New York two of its top prospects, Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams, but it landed the Mets one of the best starting pitchers in the game, and another valuable arm in Tobias Myers.
New York quickly opted to move on from Criswell, who it had claimed off waivers earlier this offseason, after adding Peralta and Myers. Criswell previously served as a valuable swingman for the Boston Red Sox, but he pitched sparingly in 2025, posting a 3.57 ERA in just 17.2 innings of work.
While Criswell has shown he can be a valuable asset in the past, the Mets simply did not need him anymore, leading to him getting designated for assignment. It didn’t take long for him to find a new home, though, as the Mariners swooped him and picked him up, with New York receiving cash considerations in exchange for the 29-year-old right-handed pitcher.
“The Mariners have acquired Cooper Criswell from the Mets, a source tells ESPN. Criswell had been designated for assignment,” Jorge Castillo shared in a post on X.
Mets Aiming to Return to Playoffs After Disappointing 2025 Campaign
GettyManager Carlos Mendoza of the New York Mets signals to the bullpen.
New York entered the 2025 campaign with big expectations, but it ended up failing to make the playoffs entirely. Losing several stars, such as Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, certainly didn’t make the fanbase happy, but signing Bo Bichette and trading for Peralta and Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox has changed the vibes surrounding the team as the 2026 season draws near.
On paper, the Mets still have some moves to make, but it’s clear this team is looking a lot better than it was just a couple of weeks ago. Losing Criswell isn’t ideal, but that’s a price New York will be willing to pay after bringing a stud like Peralta to town. With this move in the books, it will be worth keeping an eye on the Mets, as it feels like they may not be done just yet.
Mets Send Pitcher to Mariners After Freddy Peralta Trade