New York Mets’ right-hander Carlos Carrasco will begin a rehab assignment tonight, according to the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ High-A affiliate.
The return of a healthy Carrasco would be a huge boon to a Mets team that is gearing up for a pennant race over the season’s final months. They currently sit atop the NL East, but have both Philadelphia and Atlanta within 3.5 and 4 games, respectively. The rotation, despite an excellent front three in Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker, has taken some hits with the losses of David Peterson,Jordan Yamamoto, Thomas Szapucki and Joey Lucchesi to injuries, the latter two being done for the year. As a clear contender, the Mets will surely be looking into making additions at the deadline and were recently connected to Cole Hamels. The status of Carrasco could have an impact on how aggressively the Mets pursue starting pitching.
Acquired in the offseason blockbuster that also brought over Francisco Lindor, the Mets have not yet seen Carrasco take the mound this season. The righty tore his hamstring during Spring Training and has been out since. Carrasco has been through a lot in recent years, having battled leukemia, returning healthy, being traded and then the aforementioned hamstring injury. But when on the mound, he has been a very effective starter. With Cleveland from 2014 to 2020, “Cookie” threw 1004 innings with an ERA of 3.41, K% of 28.1 and a BB% of 5.9%, and accumulated 23.4 fWAR in that span.
The Mets will surely be hoping to have that level of production back in the mix, both for this year’s stretch run and the future, as Carrasco is under contract for 2022 at $12MM, with a $14MM vesting/club option for 2023.
Not sure what to expect for Carrasco. He was acquired in January and I haven’t seen him in uniform yet. No Spring Training games, nothing. I am hopeful but not sure they should count on much.
Yamamoto was always a non-factor.
Yamamoto was always a non-factor
In 1st for this long w/ how many missing regulars, wow look out league as we get healthy
You, sir, are assuming no new injuries will occur. Good Luck with that.
While some of the offensive guys on the IL are returning, both Stroman and Walker are regressing. DeGrom has largely been unhittable, but if Stro and Walker revert to #3s, you’re going to have a good fight on your hands to remain in 1st.
You are really overstating the regression of stroman and Walker
Every MLB team has had massive injuries this year.
It’s partly from players being out of shape, and partly from teams playing every game as if it’s the 7th game of the World Series. The reason players went all out in the 7th game of the WS was because they had 4 months to rest up before Spring Training.
With all the medical and nutritional advancements, team players today are hurt more then at any time in the past. Injury’s are as big an epidemic as TJ surgery.
It’s also from the shifts and the constant roster changes. Teammates playing next to one another are often strangers. They’re running into one another. 1st basemen are playing the OF. 3B’s are standing where 2B’s should be standing, etc. When a ball is hit between players, guys go after it not realizing that a teammate is doing the same. It’s not just sloppy play, now it’s causing injuries.
MLB should not be administered as if it’s rotisserie baseball. Those are human beings out there, not robots. The FO types that were not good enough to play professional baseball act like they’re control freak wizards behind the curtain, instead of letting the plyers play.
Getting healthy is one thing, actually hitting is another. It doesn’t matter how healthy the Mets are if they can’t hit.
I don’t usually speak off topic in these posts, but just read a rumor on MLB.com that Yankees are looking at Joey Gallo. I am getting so tired of any writer that still does not realize how hamstrung the other NY team is because they are not going over the soft cap. They will not be acquiring ANY player with a contract, and Texas will have too many options to be willing to pay Joey’s contract for them. How stupid are these writers?
Come ‘on, stymeedone;
You’ve been around enough to know the power of clickbait.
As for the Yankees….
They need some team leaders on the field; a bona fide ML SS.; a ML Catcher that can call a game, handle a pitching staff and play defense. And a real ML CF.
I was listening to the Astros announcer last week when Yankees played them. He said the same thing I’ve been writing here for a year – the Yankees win when they outhomer and/or outpitch the opposition. They don’t manufacture runs. They don’t play solid defense. They run the bases station to station. Teams that finish high in the standings are those that find a way to win even when the pitching that day is spotty, and the offense isn’t clicking.
What makes the Joey Gallo rumor is exciting to Yankee fans is that he’s a LH masher that can hit routine fly balls into the RF porch for HR’s. He’s exactly the sort of one-dimensional player that Cashman and his staff love.
May I add…….
The Yankees also need a new head of Baseball Ops, a new FO, and a new Manager and coaching staff.
@stymeedone. I have no idea why Yankees even want Gallo. They have way to many all or nothing hitters already. The only thing I like about Gallo is that he’s a lefty. Trade Stanton eat half his contract for Gallo. I’m also confused why trade Gallo anyway. I thought he was Texas franchise player. I guess Texas doesn’t plan to contend anytime soon. If that’s the case Texas should not have anyone on the current roster untouchable.
Probably not Gallo. Probably, as Samuel points out, nothing more than click bait. NY teams are forever being linked to moves that were never seriously considered in actuality.
It may be a little bit too conservative but I think maybe it would be smarter to just let it ride as far as the trade deadline is concerned. With as many Major League caliber players as the Mets have that are hurt, any they do get back this season will be a help for them in the postseason. Given how Conforto, Syndergaard, and Stroman will all be free agents and given the uncertainty of which will be resigned and at what cost, it will be important to keep focusing on rebuilding that farm system rather than trade them away for an improved shot at a ring this year. Consistently good teams that build consistently good rosters rarely go “all in” at the trade deadline. Sometimes it works if you’re a small market team with a limited window (see the 2014-15 Royals), but it usually means that you’re in for a long rebuild after. If the Mets want to become a consistently good team that doesn’t overspend and occasionally wins Championships (i.e. St. Louis) then they shouldn’t mortgage the future for a Scherzer or Bryant at the trade deadline.
Agree completely. If they go all in this year it could be the last year they contend in a while.
I don’t think that they are willing to trade what they consider their best prospects. I think we’re looking at cheaper rentals who won’t make them have to pluck their top 3 guys. Unless of course they manage to find a long term solution but that isn’t really out there and if it were, the price would be insane.
The Mets are in first place, the biggest threat to them in the division just lost a top 5 (in MLB) player to injury, and this is the first full season of having the richest owner in baseball. Do they have some guys who are pending FAs….absolutely. Even before all of this, resigning Conforto AND Syndergaard was in doubt…but they can afford to sign one, extend Nimmo, re-sign Stroman, and still have some flexibility w/o blowing through the luxury tax line.
All of that said…the Mets are far better positioned than the Yankees for the next 1-3 years. The Mets farm is mediocre and they need depth and more high-end guys, but now they have a majority owner than can throw around money and fill holes a lot more easily than the crooked penny-pinching Wilpons.
As for Carrasco, I think he’ll be a great bump for the Mets. Cookie is a solid pitcher and he very realistically can come in as a #3 with #2 upside. He’ll be on an innings limit, but the Mets can go out and get another 1-2 arms (BP > SP) and be well positioned for a strong 2nd half. They also have really underwhelmed at the plate, so if some guys can come around, they will have a top 3 pitching staff and a top 7-10 lineup. Their defense is much better too.
That’s an “if everything goes right” take and even still, it doesn’t have me brimming with confidence…. And I’m not so sure that it doesn’t put them well over the threshold. They’re close now as it is.
That’s true, but next offseason they will have a lot of holes on that roster (assuming nobody gets re-signed). Fortunately, Cohen has so much money and such a willingness to spend it that those holes can be plugged. I would much rather get Bryant and Scherzer in 2022 for $$$ rather than in 2021 for prospects, no matter how highly or lowly ranked they are. Plus given the Mets track record at getting great results out of low ranked prospects (deGrom, McNeil, etc) I would rather hold all of my prospects close than get some mid level depth pieces that are replacement level from our own, strong, current minor league depth.
Two and a half years ago, the Mets acquired Keon Broxton from the Brewers for three low level prospects. Two of them didn’t pan out, but one of them, an at the time 18 year old infielder named Felix Valerio, now has a .419 OBP and 18 SB in A ball. Broxton played 34 games with the Mets and was waived. Obviously that was a Brodie trade and he is gone now, but I think the new front office team should really consider how much they stand to gain this year by how much they could stand to lose in the future.
Cohens riches are already on display. They are close to the threshold so unless Cohen is willing to run a 275 million dollar plus payroll (spoiler, he won’t be), money is gonna be tight regardless. Factor in the money they’ll have to spend just to maintain status quo and, we’ll, it’s going to be a very challenging situation.
@ BartoloHRball;
Having the richest owner is nice.
The problem with the Mets is that they’re already up at the salary cap (with deGrom due for a big raise along with Alanzo, Smith, Stroman and others). Sure the owner can go over the cap and pay a penalty. But unlike the NBA where there is a tax leveled, MLB also has stiff penalties regarding draft choices and other safeguards that make it difficult to acquire good young cheap players if a franchise keeps going over the cap. The Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Giants, other wealthy franchises have realized the implications and pulled back – recently the Phillies owner got woke. Get a few more ridiculous, overvalued long-term contracts like Lindor’s on the books, and Mr. Cohen will find out what honcho’s such as Ted Turner and others that bought franchises and spent wildly learned – that the most important asset a MLB franchise must have is a constant supply of young cheap productive players coming through their farm system……which the salary cap penalties will prevent.
Degrom is on a very tram friendly deal that lasts I thought another 2-3 years. Maybe I’m mistaken. Didn’t he just sign a 5 year deal during spring training 2020?
He can opt out after next year. He gets 35 million until then and then 32 million a year if he doesn’t opt out. I dunno if I’d call that team friendly but they will probably have to extend him.
Totally agree
Best news I’ve heard all week. Rooting for him and Lindor all the way
Lindor is the reason the Mets will not make it anywhere for the next 10 years.
Guy has not and will not produce and his salary has strapped the Mets from keeping and bringing in any talent; how do you enjoy that?
I made my screen name early when Cano got there I guess you made your screen name early and are backed into a corner.
Appreciate your enthusiasm though…
Little early to assume Lindor isn’t gonna produce but have fun with that.
therein lies the problem; I can’t have fun with THAT albatross hanging around the Met’s neck for 10 years; to painful to watch your number 2 hitter batting .221 for 350 million dollars; even if he hits a little higher dude is never going to worth the money.
He is always smiling cause he knows he never has to produce again; laughing all the way to the bank but God Bless him he got what he asked for.
Totally forgot Carrasco is a Met. That would certainly be a boost.
carrasco is washed up that is why cleveland traded him they knew.Keep dreaming
Uh…
2020 for Cleveland: 68IP, 2.91 ERA, 82k, 27BB, 1.20 WHIP
Did he wash up overnight? Seem like pretty strong numbers for a 2-3 pitcher.
Cleveland’s Starter ERA in 2021 to date: 5.22 (ranked 26th in MLB)
Cleveland’s starter ERA in 2020: 3.17 – 1st in MLB.
Still think they made a great decision to let him go? I think he would have been a help to them in the second half
He probably means that Carrasco is washed up and is nice and clean – ready to take the mound for his rehab start
Agree with you there Bryan C, plus the injury that he sustained had nothing to do with any of his prior medical issues: sometimes stuff just happens. I think my bigger concern is that if the Mets had traded instead for Arenado and signed Lindor (or Story/Seager/Correa) after the 2021 season, then I think we’d be in a better spot long term. Basically there was “inventory” of all star level SSs but not of all star level 3Bs hitting the market in 2021-22 going into last offseason. Now the Mets are in a spot where they pretty much HAVE to get Bryant in free agency as there are no other better out of house options and the in house ones all have major shortcomings. Carrasco was always an added bonus to the Lindor trade, and clearly the starting pitching, while thin, has carried the team even without him.
@ PSUMetsFan;
Again……
The Mets are kissing the salary cap now. How do they sign deGrom to an extension, pay Stroman, Thor, give raises to McNeil, Alonzo, Nimmo, Walker and Smith, pay Cano $20-plus million not to play, and then give Bryant $20-plus million long-term?
You think releasing Conforto, JD Davis, Guillorme and one or two others will offset the 10’s of millions in raises? Do they have young, cheap quality players in their farm system ready to come up and play regularly in 2022? Name them.
I think Stroman will walk and Walker is on a two year deal already so he isn’t due a raise, so to me those two guys represent a net reduction in salary all together. The raises that Alonzo and Nimmo will earn this year might offset that at best, and Smith and McNeil haven’t played well enough to earn major raises in arbitration IMO. Conforto and Syndergaard have played very poorly or not at all in walk years of free agency, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back on one year prove it deals that are only slightly more than they’re making this year.
Overall, if you subtract Stroman’s $19m and Familia’s $10m but add everyone else, I wouldn’t be shocked if that evens out to savings of $15m or more. Add back in Cano that’s nearly break even.
Now as far as deGrom is concerned, Bauer is only making $5 more than he is this year, so Jake’s raise couldn’t be more more than that. Therefore my beer math tells me that if they let Familia and Stroman walk, then they’ll have a payroll within $10m give or take of what they’re paying this year with no new acquisitions. Therefore, the decision to bust the soft cap comes down to what they’re willing to pay for Bryant.
As for young replacements, David Peterson has to be better, simple as that, and because of their thin depth they can’t afford to do much trading of what they do actually have. Maybe Megill keeps it up? Maybe Szapucki has a quick recovery? Maybe Allan or Rocker are major league ready within 2-3 years? LFGM.
The Mets are gonna need to do a heck of a lot more than just sign Bryant next year, though. I’m a fan, but I’m a bit worried.
Have faith, I think we’re looking great! As a Met fan since ’98 I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Met team with better home run shirt ripping chemistry than this one (sans the rat/raccoon incident). We’ve got a nice mix of youth and experience, and a front office that has been killing it with major league talent scouting and contracts. We’ve got a young manager who is really improving in leaps and bounds as he’s gotten more experience. We’ve finally got an owner who is giving the baseball ops people the resources they want and need to succeed, and he’s actually a FAN of our team! As much as people rag on our minor league system we have produced some really important parts of a NL East leading roster via our minor league player development, so who says we can’t do it again? Are we the best team in the NL? No, but are we capable of making a nice run in October? Absolutely. Will we be bringing the vast majority of this roster back next year? Yup. We’ll be fine!
@ PSUMetsFan;
LOL
OK…..
So deGrom can only get what Bauer is getting? Sure. They’re comparable pitchers.
Cano is due $20-plus million that is not on the books this year.
You’re letting Stroman, Syndergaard, and Familia walk? OK. And maybe someone(s) will replace them (for sure they’re not going to get worse now that the NL has seen them, right?).
And who needs Conforto. There’s another Pillar type out there – which is all the Mets will be able to afford….although maybe JD can start 120 games in RF.
The chances of Bryant or any $20-plus million FA coming onto the Mets is slim and none. They have more of a chance of upgrading by offering McNeil, Smith, and/or Nimmo in trade along with some youngsters for a controlled above average player……and he will be making more than those 3 guys.
I don’t think you comprehend how the Mets have painted themselves into a corner. They have few minor league prospects to speak of. They’re in 1st place in the worst division in MLB by 3.5 games – where only one of the other teams is at .500 and the others are below it. IF they make the playoffs in 2021 it will be as a division winner, as their record does not stack up for a wild card spot. I find it hard to believe they get through the 1st round of any playoff as the Brewers, Giants, Padres and Dodgers currently are all much better staffed for a short series than the Mets – although we obviously don’t foresee major injuries (in any short series the Mets cannot win if deGrom loses a game).
You look at how Chaim Bloom re-structured the Red Sox. They’ve got young cheap productive players coming out of their ears. The Mets have paid above retail price for what they have, and their farm system has not been upgraded. I understand your desperation, but the days of buying a championship in MLB are long gone. You think like a Yankee fan. They haven’t been in a WS in over a dozen years.
@samuel
You’re right, deGrom will make more than Bauer but slightly more at best for probably more years. Bauer broke the record for average annual salary because the Dodgers gave him less years, so this would represent only a net increase of probably $5ish M more than what deGrom is already making this year. They certainly won’t miss Familia, and if they bring back Syndergaard why would he make significantly more, if any more, than he already makes if he hasn’t pitched in 2 years? Stroman is the only guy they can’t afford to bring back: Cano’s $20m essentially replaces Stroman’s $19m on next year’s books.
They definitely shouldn’t trade away McNeil or Nimmo, and probably not Smith as his value is pretty low right now. It wouldn’t give them enough of an upgrade and those are the very cheap pre FA players they want to have anyway.
Bottom line, we shed Stroman, Familia, Villar, Pillar, and Loup and get back about $40m. We add Cano and (maybe) Bryant and that’s about $40m. Factor in arbitration raises, deGrom’s raise, one year prove it’s for Syndergaard and Conforto, and that’s what, an all in total of $10-15 million at the most? Plus, how much is MLB going to raise the cutoff next year? Yeah we’re close, but as the Dallas Cowboys like to say “we can move some money around.” Our owner is worth three times what the next richest in baseball is worth.
As far as the division, that’s great! It’s easier to make the playoffs then. In 2015 nobody gave them a chance against the Dodgers or Cubs but they crushed them, and I’d take the 2021 editions of deGrom, Stroman, and Walker as my three playoff starters every day of the week and twice on Sunday. And going into next year they’ll only have to replace one of them.
Why would the Mets trade away cheap productive in McNeil & Nimmo…both are above avg players already who fit in great in the club house. If anything, the Mets should try and extend those guys during this year/off-season. They are both a couple years older and might jump at a contract now to ensure generational wealth.
My guess is the Mets will let Conforto walk, though tag him with a QO….unless they decide to QO Syndergaard. Stroman could be the odd guy out, depending on how Cookie & Syn look down the stretch. The Mets will have deGrom, Cookie, Walker, & Peterson as starting options…though you can never have enough pitching. I think I heard they have started 17 guys so far this season, which is crazy given they are still top 5 in the league in ERA.
As for their overall payroll….the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is up after this season, so a lot can change in regard to the salary cap, taxes, etc. They are definitely up against it, but that may or may not matter after the new CBA.
Like I said keep dreaming he will comeback pitch one game then go out again.
Totally agree with Samuel. Would be a mistake to take on another huge salary with all of the home grown Mets soon to receive big bumps in their salaries.
Is Metsfan22 not on this thread yet, phew it’s still sane
As a long time Met’s fan its just painful and embarrassing when he chimes in…