The Cubs have released right-hander Matt Carasiti, according to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick (via Twitter). He’ll be moving to Japan to play for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yakult Swallows.
Carasiti, 26, landed in Chicago in a mid-season swap with the Rockies — the team that originally drafted and developed him. He reached the majors with Colorado in 2016, struggling in limited action.
There was some cause to think that Carasiti could earn a return trip to the majors before long. He worked to a 3.26 ERA with 12.3 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 over 49 2/3 Triple-A frames in 2017. Carasiti showed a mid-nineties heater during his brief MLB stint and has typically generated solid groundball numbers.
In the NPB, though, Carasiti will likely enjoy solid earnings and a clear path to a significant role. At his age, it’s certainly possible that he could end up moving back to the big leagues if he proves himself at Japan’s highest level.
I think it’s interesting how American players use Japan like it’s AAAA that pays. The borderline majors leaguers go there while the best Japanese come here. Just an interesting dynamic.
A better paying AAA and perhaps the surest check they will ever receive to help them financially in life…
The crowd and fanbase is likely another minor factor that nudges certain players to Japan or even Korea.
It’s also hard to discount the chance to travel while you’re still young. Not many opportunities exist for someone in their mid-20s to get paid to live in Japan, and if you’re a fringe major-leaguer with a low chance of sticking on an MLB roster, why not take the paycheck that also lets you see the world and experience living in another culture?
It would be an awesome experience for any lover of baseball to experience Japanese crowds. Good stuff
After looking up the team Carasiti is going to, I wondered where Ohtani’s team was. Carasiti is going to the last place team of a 6 team division, and Ohtani played for the 5th place team of a 6 team division, Hard to wonder why Ohtani wants to leave, given he’s not playing for a contender. They are the equivalent of the Padres/Phillies/etc. I feel this should have been mentioned in all the Ohtani discussion that has swirled between here and Fangraphs… Hell, maybe it was and I just didn’t see it.
Carasati is leaving a soon-to-be 3rd place team for Japan. Looks like the dynasty is over
2/10 b8
Soon to be 3rd place team? The Reds and who else are going to pass them?
3rd place team? LOL! Keep telling yourself that!