Carlos Carrasco is a professional baseball pitcher who has been playing in the Major Leagues since 2009. Over the course of his career, he has had some notable achievements, including being named an All-Star in 2017 and finishing in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting twice.
However, in recent years, Carrasco has been in the news for reasons beyond his on-field performance. In December 2018, he signed a four-year, $47 million contract extension with the Cleveland Indians, but in January 2021, he was traded to the New York Mets.
In this blog post, we will examine what has happened to Carlos Carrasco in the years since he signed his extension with the Indians, including his trade to the Mets and the recent news about his team option for 2023.
Contract Extension and Trade
In December 2018, Carlos Carrasco signed a four-year, $47 million contract extension with the Cleveland Indians. This extension came at a time when Carrasco had already established himself as one of the best pitchers in the league, with a career record of 88-73 and an ERA of 3.77.
The extension was seen as a smart move for the Indians, as it allowed them to lock up a key member of their pitching staff at a relatively reasonable price.
However, just a few years later, things began to change for Carrasco. In January 2021, he was traded to the New York Mets as part of a multi-player deal.
This trade came as a surprise to many, as Carrasco had been a consistent performer for the Indians and was seen as a valuable asset to the team. Nonetheless, the Indians were looking to rebuild and the Mets were looking to add to their roster, so the trade made sense for both teams.
In addition to Carrasco, the Mets also acquired All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor in the trade, further bolstering their lineup.
While it was certainly a big change for Carrasco to move from Cleveland to New York, many fans and analysts were excited to see what he could do with his new team.
2021 Season
Carlos Carrasco’s first season with the New York Mets in 2021 was unfortunately marred by injuries, limiting his time on the mound.
He started the season on the injured list with a hamstring injury and then suffered a setback during his rehab that kept him out of action for several more weeks.
He eventually made his Mets debut on June 12th, 2021, and pitched 4 innings while allowing 1 run in a win against the San Diego Padres.
Despite the injuries, Carrasco showed flashes of the talent that had made him such a valuable player with the Indians. In 10 starts, he posted a 6-4 record with a 4.01 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched.
One of his best outings of the year came on August 10th, when he pitched 7 shutout innings and struck out 10 batters in a win against the Washington Nationals.
Carrasco’s injury woes continued throughout the season, however. In early September, he was shut down with a sore right shoulder and did not pitch for the remainder of the year.
Despite the setbacks, the Mets remained optimistic about Carrasco’s future with the team and looked forward to seeing him healthy and in action in the coming years.
Mets’ Team Option for 2023
In November 2022, the New York Mets made the decision to exercise their team option for Carlos Carrasco for the 2023 season. The option is worth $14 million, which is a significant amount of money for a player who has struggled with injuries in recent years.
However, the Mets clearly see value in Carrasco and believe that he can still be a productive member of their pitching staff.
For Carrasco, the exercise of the team option provides some stability and security going forward. He will have the opportunity to pitch for a team that clearly values his contributions, and will be compensated accordingly.
It also gives him a chance to build on the progress he made during the 2021 season and to show that he is still one of the top pitchers in the league when healthy.
From the Mets’ perspective, exercising the team option makes sense for a number of reasons. First, Carrasco has shown that he can be a valuable contributor to the team when healthy, and the Mets are clearly looking to build a competitive roster in the coming years.
Second, the team has a number of other high-priced contracts on the books, and Carrasco’s $14 million option represents a relatively small amount of money in comparison.
Finally, the team likely sees value in having a veteran pitcher like Carrasco on the roster, both for his on-field contributions and for his leadership in the clubhouse.
Overall, the exercise of the team option is a positive development for both Carlos Carrasco and the New York Mets. While there are certain risks associated with investing in a player with Carrasco’s injury history, the potential rewards are significant as well.
With a solid season in 2023, Carrasco could help the Mets make a deep playoff run and establish himself as one of the team’s most important players.
Carlos Carrasco’s key career milestones:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Signed as an international free agent by PHI |
| 2009 | MLB debut with CLE |
| 2011 | Tommy John surgery |
| 2014 | Named Opening Day starter for CLE |
| 2017 | All-Star selection |
| 2017 | Finished 4th in AL Cy Young Award voting |
| 2018 | Signed 4-year, $47 million extension with CLE |
| 2018 | Finished 8th in AL Cy Young Award voting |
| 2021 | Traded to NYM |
| 2021 | Struggled with injuries during season |
| 2022 | NYM exercises $14 million team option for 2023 |
Name of the table: “Carlos Carrasco’s Career Milestones”
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Carlos Carrasco get started in baseball?
Carrasco grew up in Venezuela and was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent in 2003. He made his MLB debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2009.
What is Carlos Carrasco’s pitch repertoire?
Carrasco is known for his fastball, which he can throw in the mid-to-upper 90s, as well as a slider, curveball, and changeup.
What are some of Carlos Carrasco’s career highlights?
Carrasco has been named an All-Star once (2017) and has finished in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting twice (2017, 2018). He also threw a complete game shutout with 12 strikeouts against the Kansas City Royals in 2015.
Has Carlos Carrasco won any awards?
In addition to his All-Star selection and Cy Young Award voting finishes, Carrasco has won the Cleveland Indians’ Bob Feller Man of the Year award twice (2015, 2019) for his community service and charitable work.
Does Carlos Carrasco have a nickname?
Carrasco is sometimes referred to as “Cookie,” which is short for “Jarradito,” a nickname he was given as a child.
To Recap
Carlos Carrasco has experienced a number of changes and challenges since signing his contract extension with the Cleveland Indians in 2018.
He was traded to the New York Mets in 2021, and while his first season with the team was hampered by injuries, he showed signs of the talent that had made him a valuable player with the Indians.
Despite the injuries, the Mets saw enough potential in Carrasco to exercise their team option for the 2023 season. This decision provides stability and security for Carrasco, while also giving the Mets a valuable veteran presence on their pitching staff.
If he can stay healthy, Carrasco has the potential to be a key contributor to a Mets team that is looking to build a competitive roster in the coming years.
Overall, Carlos Carrasco’s journey in the MLB has been marked by ups and downs, but his talent and work ethic have allowed him to overcome the challenges and establish himself as one of the league’s top pitchers.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see what he can do with the Mets in the years to come.
