It took the Boston Red Sox less than two weeks into the 2025 MLB season to make their first trade of the campaign.
On Monday morning, the Red Sox revealed that right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, resulting in outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez, a 2025 Competitive Balance Round A selection, and a future player or cash considerations being sent to Boston.
With Priester being a member of the 40-man roster, Red Sox fans immediately began speculating who'd be given the newly opened spot. As it turns out, it didn't take manager Alex Cora & Co. long to make that decision.
Red Sox Add Robert Stock to 40-Man Roster, Demote Cooper Criswell After Quinn Priester Trade
Shortly after Priester was sent packing, the Red Sox announced that veteran reliever Robert Stock had been added to the 40-man roster while also being promoted to the MLB. At the same time, MassLive's Chris Cotillo is reporting that the club has also demoted veteran hurler Cooper Criswell to Triple-A Worcester.
Red Sox called up Robert Stock, as @tommycassell44 reported, and optioned Cooper Criswell to AAA. The 40-man is back to full.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) April 7, 2025
Stock, 35, is a former 2009 San Diego Padres draft pick who's currently in his second Red Sox stint. The Bellevue, WA native made 10 relief appearances during the 2020 campaign, going 0-1 with a 4.73 ERA and 14 strikeouts across 13 1/3 innings of work. He left Boston following that season and has since spent time with the Cubs, Mets, and Brewers with stints in Mexico and South Korea along the way.
It was a strong performance in the 2024 Mexican Pacific League that landed Stock back on the Red Sox's radar. The veteran righty pitched efficiently for Naranjeros de Hermosillo, going 10-2 with a 1.92 ERA, 1.067, and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings in 14 starts. He's since followed that performance up by pitching 8 1/3 scoreless innings with 12 Ks in two Triple-A Worcester appearances.
While Stock's call-up isn't all that surprising, neither is Criswell's demotion. The 6-foot-6 reliever was easily the weakest part of the Red Sox bullpen to begin the year, recording an abysmal 8.31 ERA without a single strikeout in three outings (4 1/3 innings).
Only time will tell if Stock can live up to the hype or if Criswell can work his way back to the Majors. In the meantime, the Red Sox will remain focused on competing for the 2025 World Series, which they have +2200 odds to win (T-8th), according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
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