After the 2023 season, it looked like Carlos Carrasco’s career was coming to an end.
Pitching for the New York Mets, the veteran right-hander posted a 6.80 ERA in 90 innings.
Injuries reduced him to a horrible version of himself.
But the Cleveland Guardians had hope, and brought him back on the cheap to see if there is anything left in his arm.
Nobody knows if he will regain the form that made him a formidable mid-rotation starter during his Guardians stint in the 2010s, and even with the Mets as recently as 2022, but he has made the roster and that alone means a lot.
“Carlos Carrasco has made the 26-man roster for Opening Day! Year 1-Year 15 … We’re excited to have you toe the rubber back in the Cleveland, @Cookie_Carrasco!” the team tweeted, officially welcoming the veteran right-hander to the 26-man roster.
Carlos Carrasco has made the 26-man roster for Opening Day!
Year 1-Year 15 … We’re excited to have you toe the rubber back in the Cleveland, @Cookie_Carrasco! ❤️#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/fw6PIhjSbR
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) March 22, 2024
A spot in the rotation opened up for Carrasco when right-hander Gavin Williams reported some elbow discomfort in recent days.
“Cookie” is now expected to be the fifth starter, presumably behind Opening Day starter Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Tanner Bibee, and Logan Allen.
Carrasco, like teammate Shane Bieber, went to Driveline in the offseason to try and regain his best form.
And, like Bieber, he had a solid spring with a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings.
His BB/K ratio of 6/9 still needs work, but he is throwing harder than last year and showing much more consistency with his pitches and his delivery.
Being healthy obviously helps, too.
Carrasco probably won’t finish with an ERA in the high-2.00s or low-3.00s like he did several times in his career, but even somewhere in the high-3.00s or low-4.00s will be enough to consider his signing a success.
NEXT: Guardians Show A Glimpse Of Potential Opening Day Lineup