The Rockies took a small step toward adding starting pitching depth Tuesday, acquiring right-hander Jeff Criswell from Oakland.
The A’s got right-hander reliever Chad Smith in the trade.
Criswell, 23, was Oakland’s second-round draft choice in 2020 after playing three seasons at the University of Michigan. He climbed the minor-league ladder last season, beginning the season at high-A Lansing, moving up to Double-A Midland and finishing the season by making two starts for Triple-A Las Vegas in the Pacific Coast League.
Overall, he pitched 118 1/3 innings (24 games, 21 starts), posting a 4.03 ERA. The 6-foot-4 right-hander was ranked 16th in Oakland’s minor-league system by Baseball America.