Jeff Criswell, the right-handed relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him for the entire 2025 season. The announcement comes just a week before his 26th birthday. Scheduled for March 14, the procedure will be carried out by Dr. Keith Meister, a well-known surgeon among major league teams. This development is a significant loss for the Rockies, as Criswell debuted in the 2024 season with a promising performance, posting a 2.75 ERA across 13 appearances.

His surgery means that the Rockies may need to reassess their bullpen strategy, especially after placing veteran Justin Lawrence on waivers. The absence of Criswell may open opportunities for younger arms within the organization. The Rockies acquired Criswell in a trade with the Oakland Athletics in December 2022, and they were counting on him to contribute significantly in the upcoming season.

The Colorado Rockies have put relief pitcher Justin Lawrence on irrevocable waivers. As he remains on the waiver wire, he can still pitch for the Rockies. If claimed within 48 hours, the team taking him will assume his $965K salary for 2025; otherwise, the 30-year-old returns to Colorado. This move follows earlier trade discussions, and Lawrence's recent performance has raised eyebrows, evident in his troubling 9.00 ERA in spring training and a 6.49 ERA from the previous season. His career home/road splits show a stark contrast, with a 6.96 ERA at Coors Field compared to 3.86 elsewhere.

Lawrence’s departure may open opportunities for younger bullpen options like Seth Halvorsen and Luis Peralta, who combined for a 2.4 WAR last season. The Rockies' bullpen had the worst ERA in MLB last year, prompting a need for change. As Colorado looks to rebuild its pitching staff, this shift could signal a significant alteration in their bullpen strategy.

Several Major League Baseball players are poised for salary arbitration, with 29 players eligible after two to three years of service time. Notable names include Boston's Jarren Duran and Kutter Crawford, along with Seattle's George Kirby and Tampa Bay's Shane Baz.

The eligibility cutoff has been adjusted to 2 years and 132 days of service, impacting players like Washington's Michael Rucker and Atlanta's Angel Perdomo. The arbitration process will see proposed salaries exchanged on January 9, with hearings scheduled for late January to mid-February.