The Indians announced that right-hander Carlos Carrasco has been placed on the 10-day injured list, due to a non-baseball-related blood condition. With Carrasco on the IL and outfielder Greg Allen sent down to Triple-A Columbus, right-handers Nick Goody and Jon Edwards have been called up from Triple-A to fill the two open roster spots.
The full statement from the team on Carrasco’s situation…
“Carlos was recently diagnosed with a blood condition following several weeks of feeling lethargic. While in the information-gathering stage, Carlos is stepping away from baseball activities to explore the optimal treatment and recovery options, the details of which will be conveyed at the discretion of Carlos and his family. We do not know when Carlos will rejoin the club but expect him back at some point this season. At this time, our primary concern is Carlos’ health and we will respect his wishes to keep this a private matter. We ask everyone to keep Carlos and his family in their thoughts during his challenging time.”
As by recently noted by MLBTR’s Connor Byrne, Carrasaco was enduring a tough season, with a 4.98 ERA thanks to huge spikes in his hard-contact, fly ball, and home run rates. While the exact timeline of Carrasco’s illness isn’t known, he tossed 12 innings of shutout ball over starts on May 9 and May 14 before allowing 14 earned runs over his next three outings (17 2/3 IP).
The fact that Carrasco is expected back on the mound this season is certainly good news, and we at MLBTR join the rest of the baseball world in wishing Carrasco and his family all the best. This isn’t the first health issue that the 32-year-old Carrasco has faced, as he dealt with a heart condition in 2015, as well as a pair of major baseball-related major injuries (Tommy John surgery in 2011, a broken hand at the end of the 2016 season that sidelined him for Cleveland’s postseason run).
The Indians went into the season counting on being carried by arguably the game’s best rotation, though that starting five has now lost Carrasco, Corey Kluber, and Mike Clevinger for extended periods. Clevinger is close to beginning a rehab assignment after missing almost two months due to back problems, though Carrasco is out indefinitely and Kluber is still a long ways from a return after suffering a fractured forearm in early May. Yefry Rodriguez had made eight starts for the Tribe filling in for Kluber, though Rodriguez himself went on the IL yesterday with a shoulder strain.
This leaves Trevor Bauer, Shane Bieber, and rookie Zach Plesac as the only healthy members of Cleveland’s rotation. Cody Anderson and Adam Plutko have made starts for the Tribe this season and could again be recalled from Triple-A, plus Chih-Wei Hu and Asher Wojciechowski are also available in the Columbus rotation as further depth. Cleveland currently has a 10-man bullpen, and could also deploy an opener to account for at least one of those open rotation spots rather than a regular starter.
As the injuries continue to mount, it will increase speculation that the Tribe could be sellers rather than buyers at the trade deadline. Though the Indians entered today’s action just a game out of a wild card spot, Cleveland has a 30-30 record, a minus-13 run differential, and is already staring at a 10.5 game deficit behind the surprising Twins in the AL Central. The Tribe were already aggressive in cutting salary over the offseason, and rather than go all-out in pursuit of a one-game playoff, the team could continue to move payroll to streamline its roster and perhaps reload for another shot at contending in 2020.
Get Better Soon
Explains the lackluster results. Can’t imagine the Indians don’t become sellers at this point. At least Bauer and any other ST piece anyway. Can’t see them paying him 16+ next year.
Why would they sell? You’ve got terrific results from young pitchers and Clevinger back next week.
Well I’d say because they did nothing but subtract this offseason. If cookie is done for the year which seems rather likely that seriously hurts a team with no offense. All of their OF have performed well below league average this year and Kippy cannot hit at all. They’re fighting for a 2nd WC slot barring an utter collapse from the superior Twins. They didn’t improve the roster this offseason and will have to buy 2 outfielders and a 2B at the deadline if they’re really going to get in. The division wasn’t the cakewalk they had hoped for and now they have to battle w the Sox for a postseason slot. A battle that quite frankly I don’t think they can win with a team that is so flawed.
I’m not expecting a rebuild but I don’t see them being buyers. Bauer will hold a lot of appeal in July and I can’t imagine they don’t seriously consider.
They won’t make any changes until after the all Star game if they sell. This week is really the important week. They have to take at least 3 of the next 5 games to stay in the running. After that the Indians have 1 series against a team in contention until they play the Twins again right after the break.
The Twins are a good team and everyone knew that coming into the season but they are playing at a pace for 110 wins and in no way are they a 110 win team. Even with deadline additions I would be surprised if they top 95 wins.
I do think Bauer is going to be traded after that Twins series in July. Even if they cut it down to say 5 games back by the deadline I think they may still move him for offense if 2 of Clevenger, Kluber and Carrasco are healthy by then. But even if they do hold onto him no way I can see him as an Indian in 2020.
With all of their injuries to the strongest part of their team and only being 1.5 out of the wild card, why would you sell?
Well that’s horrible. hope it isn’t Leukemia.
The hits (metaphorically speaking) keep on coming. Here is to hoping that Cookie gets healthy soon.
I think it is just about time to blow this thing up, and reload for 2021 and beyond.
We’ve got some serious assets that can absolutely accelerate a rebuild. While I’m not thrilled about the idea, I am OK with seeing what I can get for Trevor Bauer, Brad Hand, and possibly Frankie Lindor. Could add at least a half dozen top notch prospects/almost major league or major league ready players.
They should move all three and see what they can get for Ramirez — he is done – in my humble opinion he’ll be out of baseball in two years. The cream here is Lindor. They can get some high caliber talent for him and maybe the rebuild won’t be so painful. They can’t compete with this roster and don’t have enough to get anything of substance back where his presence will be utilized before he leaves anyway.
Can’t compete? despite numerous injuries and issues they’ve been .500+ all season and in the playoff race….
Those issues aren’t going away anytime soon and without a major upgrade they cannot compete with Houston, New York or Minnesota –
Don’t look now but they just took two in a row against Minny despite a patchwork lineup and bullpen game…
That is my thinking. I’m looking at it from the vantage point of, “sure, we’d love to hang onto Frankie, but he’s gone in 2 years. I’d rather have 3 or 4 great prospect/MLB ready players in the Indians system now, rather than a sandwich draft pick in 2022.”
Santana will have some value as well.
One of the bigger over reaction comments I’ve seen in a while. Less than a year removed from his best year yet, many good years in a row, and you’re predicting that by age 28 he ll be completely out of professional baseball. I can understand you thinking he may not he the same caliber of player again, but do you realize how many chances are given to players who were as good as jose? 28 is the heart of his prime years, barring catastrophic injury, he ll be playing somewhere
Carlos I wish you well and hope for a speedy and healthy recovery.
Prayed for his quick healing. He is so much more than just a ball player. His efforts outside of baseball, in helping others in need, are what really make me a fan of his.
Very well said, Many prayers to Carlos and his family.
Health first for Mr. Carrasco. Hoping for a safe and speedy recovery.
Wishing him a quick recovery. Baseball takes a rightful back seat
The Indians only have Bauer, lindor, hand and Ramirez as far as healthy impact players are concerned, that’s it
The central is over as far as I’m concerned. Indians should sell. Hopefully the blood condition is taken care of
Ramirez is no longer an impact player – and Hand is certainly an impact player
What happened to Ramirez ? It’s crazy how bad he’s been
He fell off a cliff in the 2nd half last year, and he’s been lost at the plate ever since. Same thing happened to Carlos Baerga 20 years ago, and CLE traded him before the bottom completely fell out. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but the Tribe would be foolish not to shop him sooner rather than later.
Who died and made you God, Yankee Patroit?
I wish people would not use a thread on a health issue to a player to discuss trades. I just comes off selfish and rude.
Well said!
You never want to hear something like this especially to a guy who is so good to the community and actually wants to stay with a team instead of go to free agency.
After the initial surprise and wondering who is even left to replace him I started thinking how similar this is to the situation from 2016. Carrasco went down on either the 1st or 2nd batter of a game against Detroit and it turned into a bullpen game. with Salazar being hurt the week before a lot of people were saying the season was over. We all know how it went the rest of the way. Granted this team team doesn’t have the offense the 16 team did but it restored my hope a little that it’s baseball and anything could happen.
I hate when statements are released asking to keep someone in their “thoughts”. Simply thinking about someone does the sick/injured person no good. How about asking for prayers?
This.
It’s more a catch-all term that covers prayers, vibes, positive energy, whatever people believe will help.
I don’t see the distinction.
May the Flying Spaghetti Monster shelter him under His Noodly Appendage. Hope he’s alright.
Neither do prayers.
And you’re an Angels fan. Ironic.
Wow, hope that it is not very serious. Hopefully will be better soon and back with his team.
First (and most importantly) all the best wishes to Carlos & his family..
Since it wasn’t clear in the article currently Chih Wei Hu and Cody Anderson are on the AAA Injured list so they would be unavailable to help out in the near term to cover for Carrasco.
Another name to keep an eye on for filling in: Aaron Civale, 3rd round pick from 2016 draft (Beiber was 4th round and Plesac was 12th round). Civale was recently promoted to AAA and if successful there he might be on the short list for a call up. Civale is eligible to be taken in the R5 draft this December…
All 3 (Beiber/ Plesac/ Civale) are pitchers with a similar stuff/ make-up…
Get better man!!
It’s the curse of taking Wahoo off the jerseys.
Pretty sure that racist logo was there in 2007, 1997 and so on..
Cleveland’s window ended after they choked in 2016 and 2017 anyhow.
Sell Sell Sell
And this brilliant comment has what to do with a guy possibly having a career and life threatening illness? SMH…
I see ignorance has made its way onto this thread. Ignorance also means disrespect when it’s not necessary.
This report has the feeling of being dramatic because of how shrouded in mistery it is. I hope it isnt to serious and Corassco is okay.
If this is revealed as season ending or something close to that, you DO have to start wondering what the Indians long term plans should be. Corassco and Kluber are over 32 now and if you arent at least considering how much longer these two can keep producing then you have your head in the sand.
The Indians do have McKenzie coming up but other than him, Clevelands farm is thin on pitching talent. I’m a Braves fan that tracks our pitching talent a lot and if there is one thing I have seen, hoping any ONE particular pitching prospect works out is asking for dissapointment.
It might be that the Indians were one injury away (Kluber) and one unexpected poor performance away (Ramirez) from being out for the year. After all, I doubt the Twins keep winning at their pace but they arent doing what they are doing because of a weak AL Central. They are 14-6 against the ALE and 12-5 against the ALW.
So how good will the future Indians be without Kluber and Corassco once age claims them? Is this year enough to put them over the top on a rebuild? I think thats a little dramatic yet. They have a really good young core as well as veterans but I dont know if their farm can replace them in a couple years as rebuilding teams in tue Central should be coming around by then and we all know ownership isnt spending a cent. I feel your pain on this Indian fans. Braves fans know the frustration of seeing young talent develop but not getting the financial backing of ownership needed.
The future of the Indians looks very 500 from my vantage point.
Cleveland is definitely not thin on pitching talent. If anything, they have the most starting pitching depth of any system in baseball. By far. The problem is that their only slugger is Bobby Bradley and literally nothing else anywhere in their entire system.
This news transcends the usual banter about baseball. Wishing the best to Cookie and everyone close to him.
two or three more major injuries to the starting rotation such as TJ surgery with 12-15 months healing time and we can say welcome to Anaheim.
Damn leukemia, horrible news for a guy that hasn’t had it easy and has overcome adversity before. Carrasco has been such a solid teammate and good soldier I hope he strikes this out quickly. Good luck to you Cookie!