Carlos Carrasco will be a linebacker in most trades, but along with Francisco Lindor, he was simply the other guy the Cleveland awarded the Mets on Thursday.
The right-hander solves the need for rotation for the Mets, joining Jacob deGrom and Marcus Stroman to give the team a solid 1-2-3 punch. David Peterson, Seth Lugo and Steven Matz are the other possibilities present to complete this rotation. The Mets also hope Noah Syndergaard will return from Tommy John’s surgical rehabilitation in June.
Last season, the 33-year-old Carrasco went 3-4 with an ERA of 2.91 for Cleveland. He is signed for the next two seasons, with a club option for 2023.
Carrasco was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019 and missed much of the season before returning to win the AL Comeback Player of the Year. He began his career with the Phillies and left for Cleveland as part of the 2009 trade that sent Cliff Lee to Philadelphia. Carrasco finished fourth in the AL Cy Young vote in 2017, when he finished 18-6 with an ERA of 3.29.
“This guy is a very impressive human being,” said a talent scorer from a National League team. “He was a top potential with the Phillies and they were extremely patient with him and he got to Double-A and then he started fighting and they stayed patient with him. And it was the Indians who benefited from it. There was a lot of pressure on him for a Phillies prospect to rise to the level of that bill no. 1, and it didn’t happen to them. “
Carrasco, nicknamed “Cookie”, grew up in Venezuela. He became an American citizen in 2016.
“He’s a real professional and he’s grown a lot and it’s been fun to watch him since he was an 18-year-old, to where he is now,” said the talent appraiser. “It’s a real success story and I think the Mets are getting a solid guy here.”
Mets CEO Jared Porter said he was still looking for more help. The Mets have shown interest, especially free agent Jake Odorizzi, and plan to attend Corey Kluber’s upcoming pitching session. But the addition of Carrasco reduces the pressure on the Mets to add another mid-rotation option. Trevor Bauer is the best free agent on the market, but the possibility of him landing with the Mets seems less likely than when he started off-season.
Carrasco, according to team chairman Sandy Alderson, was not discussed in the initial trade talks with Cleveland, which began in November. But gradually, the Mets’ need for a starter improved the commercial package.
In the transaction, the Mets handed over Andres Gimenez, Amed Rosario and prospects to Isaiah Greene and Josh Wolf. The main target of the Mets deal was Lindor.
“He’s at the top of most people’s short list – including mine,” the talent appraiser said.