Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Crichton has opted to retire from professional baseball, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
Crichton made 93 appearances from 2017 through 2021 over parts of four seasons in the big leagues with Baltimore and Arizona, accruing a 4.79 ERA and 1.49 WHIP while gathering nine saves across 92 career innings. Injuries limited him to just four appearances with Arizona's Triple-A affiliate in Reno in 2022, but Crichton reported to camp healthy and received an invitation to big-league spring training. The 30-year-old was still facing an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster, however, and rather than spending another season in the minors, Crichton decided he was better off calling an end to his career.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Makes return before season's end
Rotowire
Double-A Amarillo activated Crichton (undisclosed) from its 60-day injured list Sept. 13 and assigned him to Triple-A Reno.
Crichton had been sidelined all season with the unspecified injury before joining Reno two weeks ago. Through his four appearances in the Pacific Coast League, Crichton has given up four runs (three earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out two over 3.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Resides on minor-league IL
Rotowire
Double-A Amarillo placed Crichton on its 60-day injured list April 8 due to an unspecified issue.
Crichton posted a 7.33 ERA and 1.93 WHIP across 31 appearances out of Arizona's bullpen last season before he was returned to the minors and moved off the 40-man roster in August. He received an invitation to big-league spring training as a non-roster invitee, but the injury prevented him from making a serious bid at a spot in Arizona's Opening Day bullpen.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Moves back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Crichton was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Monday.
Crichton had his contract selected by Arizona on Friday, but he recorded only three outs while surrendering four runs in two appearances. Sean Poppen was claimed off waivers in a corresponding move.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Lasts three-batter minimum
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Crichton allowed three runs on three hits and failed to procure an out in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Dodgers.
This was Crichton's first appearance after his contract was selected from Triple-A Reno on Friday. He turned what had been a quality start by Merrill Kelly on its head when he entered in the seventh inning with a runner on base. Justin Turner turned on a sinker two pitches into the at-bat for a two-run home run, breaking a tie game. Two singles ensued and Crichton was done after three batters and nine pitches. Those speculating that the one-time Arizona closer could return to the role after the team traded Joakim Soria will be disappointed by this outing.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Contract selected by Arizona
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Crichton's contract was selected by the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Crichton was cast off the 40-man roster in late June, but he'll now rejoin Arizona's bullpen as the team deals with a COVID-19 outbreak. The right-hander posted a 6.75 ERA in 5.1 innings across five relief appearances in the minors, and he could contend for a high-leverage role after Joakim Soria was traded to the Blue Jays on Friday.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Outrighted to Triple-A
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Crichton cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Reno on Sunday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander was designated for assignment Wednesday but will remain in the organization after going unclaimed on waivers. Crichton appeared in 29 games before being DFA'd and posted a 6.04 ERA, 1.84 WHIP and 15:12 K:BB across 22.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Bounced from 40-man roster
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The Diamondbacks designated Crichton for assignment Wednesday.
Crichton has recorded four of the Diamondbacks' six saves this season and was working in a high-leverage role out of the bullpen as recently as a couple of weeks ago, so Arizona's decision to drop him from the 40-man roster comes as a surprise. The fact that he led the team in saves is probably an indictment of the lack of quality relief arms in Arizona more than anything, as Crichton's ratios (6.04 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 2.8 K-BB%) wouldn't have made him deserving of a spot in most of the other bullpens around baseball. Crichton doesn't have any remaining minor-league options, so if another team puts in a waiver claim for him, he would have to be added to the 26-man active roster.
Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Gives up two in loss
Rotowire
Crichton allowed two runs on three hits over one-third of an inning in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Giants.
Crichton with Arizona down a run in the eighth inning and let the game slip away. Nominally, Crichton is the Diamondbacks' closer, but the team hasn't needed anyone to close out a game since he earned his fourth save of the season way back on May 10. Since then, Crichton has a 7.45 ERA and 1.66 WHIP over 9.2 innings. The Diamondbacks have lost 28 of 31 games and are already looking to the future, so they may try out guys besides Crichton or Joakim Soria to close out games. The most intriguing arm belongs to J.B. Bukauskas, but he's currently working his way back from an elbow injury.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Charged with loss
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Crichton (0-4) allowed an unearned run and one hit in one inning in Thursday's extra-inning loss to St. Louis.
Crichton gave up a go-ahead RBI double to Yadier Molina in the 10th inning, and Arizona wasn't able to answer in their half of the frame. The 29-year-old Crichton has a 6.14 ERA, 1.77 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB across 14.2 innings this season. He's collected four saves and four holds, but Arizona's 18-33 record shows that hasn't been a lot of closing opportunities for the right-hander. Joakim Soria is also in the mix for ninth-inning duties -- he pitched a perfect inning in Thursday's contest.
Crichton (0-3) yielded a walkoff home run without recording an out in Sunday's loss to Colorado.
Crichton entered the game in a non-save situation hoping to force extra innings but instead served up a 438-foot blast to Trevor Story to end the game. He's allowed two homers in his last three outings after not giving one up in his first 14 appearances. The 29-year-old is sporting an unsightly 6.23 ERA this season, and he hasn't earned a save since May 10.
Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Surrenders three in loss
Rotowire
Crichton (0-2) pitched one inning Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits in a 3-0 loss to Washington.
Crichton entered a tied game in the eighth and proceeded to allow four Nationals to reach base and three runs to cross the plate. He'd been manager Torey Lovullo's preferred closer of late, although he entered in the eighth Sunday, and the use in high-leverage situations bodes well for his prospects despite a 5.84 ERA.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Snags fourth save
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Crichton struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning to earn a save over the Marlins on Monday.
Crichton was tasked with protecting a 5-2 lead and easily retired the side in order. The 29-year-old righty owns a 3.97 ERA and has converted all four of his save chances this season.
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Diamondbacks' Stefan Crichton: Clinches save
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Crichton secured the save while allowing one hit in Thursday's victory over the Rockies.
It was the 29-year-old's third save of the year, all of which have come in his last four appearances. He was efficient, needing only 12 pitches to close out the game, and Crichton seemingly has as good a chance as anyone in this Arizona bullpen to carve a consistent ninth-inning role out of the current committee situation.
Crichton underwent X-rays on his hand Thursday that came back negative, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Crichton was hit by a comebacker in the 10th inning of Thursday's win over the Reds and exited the game, but it appears as though he's avoided any structural damage. The right-hander had earned saves in his last two appearances prior to Thursday's outing, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be forced to miss any additional time due to this injury.
