Red Sox Fill 40-Man Roster Spot Vacated By Pitcher Traded Away

The Red Sox didn’t waste any time filling out their 40-man roster Monday.

One of the spots was left open when Boston traded right-hander Quinn Priester to the Milwaukee Brewers. But mere hours after the swap went through, the spot was claimed by Robert Stock, who was selected by the Red Sox from Triple-A Worcester. In a corresponding move, fellow righty Cooper Criswell was optioned to the WooSox.

Boston reunited with Stock, who pitched the second half of the 2020 season with the Red Sox, in mid-January when they signed him away from his Mexican winter ball team. The 35-year-old appeared in two games (one start) with Worcester before his call-up, throwing a combined 8 1/3 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts. Stock managed to put together a hot start in Triple-A despite pitching in only three Grapefruit League games in spring training.

Should Stock receive a call out of the bullpen from Alex Cora while he’s with the Red Sox, it would mark his first big league outing since July 2021.

Criswell was optioned after allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits over three innings Sunday night against the St. Louis Cardinals. The 28-year-old was in “get through the game” duty as the Boston offense put up 18 runs, but he still managed to secure his first MLB save.