MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The Rays have done it countless times with pitchers they have acquired via minor trades, waiver claims or cheap free agent deals.
“I feel like everyone would always say that — when you go to the Rays you just get struck by gold,” Red Sox starter Cooper Criswell said Friday here at Target Field.
The Rays have done it with multiple Red Sox pitchers in recent years. They acquired Jeffrey Springs in a trade with Boston in February 2021 after the lefty posted a 7.08 ERA in 16 outings during the shortened 2020 season. Springs, who’s rehabbing from Tommy John surgery right now, has a 2.53 ERA in 78 outings with the Rays. He has a 2.43 ERA in 28 starts (125 innings, 37 runs).
Then there’s Zack Littell who made two relief appearances for the Red Sox in 2023 before they designated him for assignment. The Rays selected him off waivers from Boston and he has a 3.64 ERA in 33 outings (21 starts) for Tampa in 2023-24. He has a 3.00 ERA in seven starts this season.
But with Criswell, the Red Sox might have done the opposite by signing a pitcher who the Rays let go and striking him with some of their new Craig Breslow/Andrew Bailey gold. Tampa designated Criswell for assignment last Nov. 14, then the Sox signed him to a one-year, $1 million contract Dec. 13.
Criswell — who will start for Boston against the Twins here at Target Field on Sunday — has allowed just three earned runs in 16 ⅓ innings (1.65 ERA) in four outings (three starts) for Boston.
Criswell, who posted a 5.45 ERA in 36 ⅓ innings with Tampa, was impressed with the plan that pitching coach Andrew Bailey laid out during free agent conversations. It included helping him increase his velocity.
“Just talking with Bails about the velo program and trying to improve the cutter and things like that, those are the things that really sold me,” Criswell said. “I feel like for the most part, we’ve been doing pretty well with those things.”
Manager Alex Cora said in April, “We do believe we can help him with the velocity. If we can accomplish that, then we’ve got the whole package.”
Criswell’s sinker has been his most used pitch this season. He has thrown it 30.4% of the time. Opponents are 1-for-7 (.143) with a single against it.
It has been an effective pitch at an average velocity of 88.9 mph this season, although the goal is to increase its speed. Criswell said the sinker plays well when he’s locating all four of his pitches.
“Location-wise on righties, just trying to get it in if we’re going in to get some ground balls,” he said. “And then maybe try to freeze them 0-2, 1-2 with the sinker away. And then to lefties, I try to use the cutter and changeup mainly. But using the sinker to make those pitches work as well.”
The Red Sox are having Criswell train with weighted balls to help increase velocity.
“The weighted ball program that Bailey put together, just trying to stay active on that,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll see trends throughout the year. Obviously last outing it (velocity) was down a little bit but the previous few it was up from last year. Just trying to continue to stay the course with the program.”
He said it’s also important to watch video to monitor his mechanics.
“Like staying in my legs more or staying closed a little bit longer,” Criswell said. “Things like that just to maybe help with velocity.”
The Red Sox have helped Criswell to change his cutter grip and usage. He threw it 57 times to right-handed batters and 42 times to left-handed batters in 2023. But he has thrown his cutter only against left-handed batters this year.
“Similar to the sinker, I feel like it’s not overpowering,” he said about the cutter. “So obviously I feel like the location makes it that much more important. And the shape of the pitch — getting it to cut some, which this year has been way more consistent than the previous years. So just trying to continue to do that in bullpens and things. And obviously seeing it in the game as well. But mainly if you don’t have the velo, you’ve got to focus in on the rotation and hitting your spots.”
Criswell has thrown 88 sinkers, 81 sweepers, 69 changeups and 51 cutters in his four outings combined.
“I would say that (sweeper) and my sinker have been the two main pitches I’ve had pretty much from junior college to UNC,” he said. “And then the changeup and cutter have really come along since professional.”
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Criswell has always had excellent command. He averaged 2.1 walks per nine innings in the minors. He has averaged 2.5 walks per nine innings in the big leagues.
He said the Red Sox have encouraged him “to throw his best stuff in the zone.” He said the Rays also preached throwing strikes.
“I think that’s the thing I do well,” he said. “Their pitching philosophies are similar. I would say I’m throwing a few more offspeed here.”
Criswell began the season at Triple-A Worcester after missing out on the fifth rotation spot. The Red Sox considered carrying him as a reliever but they wanted to keep him stretched out as a starter in case of injuries. So they sent him to Worcester to start.
“Obviously it’s tough. You want to make the Opening Day roster,” he said. “But you’ve just gotta understand your role on each and every team. And accept that role.”
Starters Nick Pivetta, Garrett Whitlock and Brayan Bello all ended up on the IL during April.
“When your number is called, just go out there and perform to the best of your ability. Stay ready,” Criswell said. “You never know when things are going to happen. So I’ve just really tried to focus in on that. And at the end of the day, you’re here to play baseball for a living. So you can’t complain too much.”
