The Red Sox hoped guaranteeing Cooper Criswell $800,000 for the upcoming season would be enough to deter teams from claiming him off waivers, in the event they needed to remove him from the 40-man roster.

That gambit failed Friday, when the New York Mets claimed the righty off waivers.

The move comes less than 24 hours after the Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates swung a five-player trade, with Boston designating Criswell for assignment in order to open a roster spot. The Red Sox received right-handed starter Johan Oviedo, lefty reliever Tyler Samaniego, and minor league catcher Adonys Guzman in exchange for top outfield prospect Jhostynxon ‘The Password’ Garcia and minor league pitcher Jesus Travieso.

Criswell, 29, pitched to a 4.00 ERA over these last two years with the Red Sox, during wh

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