Right-hander Carlos Carrasco was one of several headlining offseason additions for the Mets, who acquired him from Cleveland as part of the teams’ Francisco Lindor trade. Unfortunately for Carrasco and New York, though, he hasn’t been able to contribute at all because of a torn right hamstring he suffered in mid-March. Three months later, Carrasco’s Mets debut still isn’t imminent.
Manager Luis Rojas told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com and other reporters on Wednesday that Carrasco is no longer throwing off the slope of the mound – which he was doing last week. While Rojas said “[t]here is no reinjury or anything like that,” he added that Carrasco needs “more strength in that hamstring before we ramp up his baseball progression.”
There’s no timetable for Carrasco’s return, Tim Healey of Newsday tweets, which is a tough blow for a Mets team that on May 27 shut down rehabbing starter Noah Syndergaard for six weeks because of his elbow. Both Carrasco and Syndergaard were supposed to be key complements to ace Jacob deGrom this year, but the club has instead relied on Marcus Stroman and Taijuan Walker in those roles. Stroman and Walker have been terrific, though the Mets’ rotation could use reinforcements after their top three. After all, David Peterson has gone through a difficult year after a promising rookie effort in 2020, while Joey Lucchesi has a 5.79 ERA and hasn’t lasted more than 4 2/3 frames in any of his outings.
If the Mets aren’t able to count on Carrasco or Syndergaard, it could lead them to make other rotation plans leading up to the July 30 trade deadline. The Mets are in first place by 2 1/2 games in the National League East, so they’re lining up as buyers right now.
For what it would of took to keep Lindor, Indians came up on this trade. Although not sure why Greene hasn’t thrown a pitch yet, assuming hurt. Carlos is a good pitcher, especially for his age.. and one of the sickest comebacks in baseball. I mean Kazmirs this year was pretty cool too but not even on the same level.
Greene hasn’t thrown a pitch yet because he is an outfielder and in Arizona still.
Gotcha, he had no position listed on his BR. Seen what arm he throws with and assumed pitcher. You know what that means.
The Indians have opted to keep everyone who was high school aged for the 2020 draft – SS Milan Tolentino, SS Carson Tucker, OF Peter Halpin, and Greene – all at their Arizona complex. This also likely has to do with the glut of young prospects they have to sort through. Both their A ball teams are some of the youngest on the circuit because so much of their pipeline prior to this year was drafting high school position players and promoting teenagers from DSL. They don’t draft a lot of college bats, and without Short Season A, there was a bit of a logjam.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
“Indians came up on this trade”? It’s 2 months into the season. Lindor is finally hitting and Carrasco will be back by mid second-half of this season. The Indians have gotten mediocre production out of Amed Rosario, and Gimenez is down in the minors because he could hit a lick. I’d say the Mets did just fine in the trade and will probably be fine in the long run having locked down a franchise SS
I think the fact that Carrasco will miss probably at least half of this season and Lindor being on pace for about a 3 fWAR season if he continues to pick it up has made this a win for CLE. Signing Lindor to a free agent value extension isn’t really something I’d consider as a positive for this trade.
1984- nobody wins or loses a trade 60-65 games after the acquisition. 70 games maybe, but definitely not 65 games after the trade!
I know I know its early but it’s that contract. That’s a long time for someone who hasn’t been able to get an OBS above .335% since 2018. They are about a 1/3 into the season and Lindor is hitting .217. That’s rough for a franchise player. Albert did that to that Angels but that happened because he was already actually like 57 or something.
They scored two shortstops. Rosario trying center while Geminez is supposed to be the better one. Well see how wolf pans out as a starter and whatever Green plays someday, he was a second round pick.
Carrasco is the early favorite to win this year’s Claude Rains Invisible Man Award. Past winners Include Jed Lowrie, Yoenis Cespedes, Carlos Beltran and for all of you old timers, Mike Vail.
As a teenager in the Cardinals organization, Mike Vail’s roommate was future pro wrestler “Macho Man” Randy Savage.
Had to look up Claude Rains, the man had 6 wives. As invisible as he was, he had no problem getting past first base.
Too bad he’s dead. The Pirates would sign him in an instant.
It’s my birthday today 🙂
And I suppose I wish Carrasco well, as I did comment off-topic on a post dedicated to him.
Happy birthday
Happy Birthday 15yearoldbaseballfanatic.
I got you by 50 years.
Thx. Confirms you really are fifteen.
Lying about your age is for (international) amateurs.
xD
Impossible! I have the papers to prove it!
I see it as a potential blessing in disguise. Because of last year, starters will be exhausted by October. Potentially having a fresh Cookie and Thor (maybe as a bullpen weapon) around could be a huge advantage.
Its June 9 and Amed Rosario has a higher OPS than Lindor. Just as Met fans expected.
Amed has been hitting 2nd in the lineup for the last 16 games and also has a .309 ba in that time. I’m an Indians fan and I’m glad we got rid of Lindor
Your last sentence? I can’t upvote it enough.
Why?
He was becoming more of a distraction than an asset and it was affecting his performance. This is all strictly from a baseball standpoint. From a human standpoint, I’m devastated because I had to tell my 8 year old his favorite player got traded. Plus, he even took time to talk to my son in between innings one game.
I like Lindor and all but I don’t know why the Mets would pay him like he was the best player in baseball.
I mean those Betts, Arenado, Harper, and Machado contracts set the rate for guys who are going to be consistent 4, 5, 6 or more WAR players. Considering the precedent those guys set, if Lindor plays like he has in the past, his deal is in line with what you’d expect.
I think Trout is (appropriately) paid like the best position player in baseball.
PeteWard, it kinda reminds me of the overpay for Jayson Werth by the Nats when they made a statement to turn it around. Werth’s seasons weren’t always great, but he marked a new “dawn” of Nats baseball. And Lindor’s offense will hopefully come around. His defense has changed the climate around the team already, something Rosario could not provide (and I loved Amed- one of my favorite Met players)
Betts has been better, Harper was 2 years younger at the time of signing his contract and it is for more years, Col had to include $50m to trade Arenado and Machado’s contract is $41m less…
Tribe fan here. I agree with this statement 100% based on your layer explanation. While some people do wonders in a contract year, the Lindor situation was a huge black cloud over the team and he didn’t really take advantage of his contract year. Had the pandemic not shortened the season, I think it would’ve been a rough season at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.
He’s picking it back up. OPS of .740 the last month. Obviously far from what you’d want from him but he’s having better at bats and is really starting to drive the ball. He’s not out on front of everything.
As far as Rosario vs Lindor, let’s examine at the end of the season. LOL.
Given Rosario’s frustrating Mets history, we can probably revisit it in five or six innings and find Indians fans cursing his name.
I thought the big bargain of the Cleveland/Mets trade was Carrasco. Now it seems like it was Rosario.
Admit it. As baseball fans, we all would have been happy had our team acquired Carrasco over the winter.
Definitely. I thought this was a great trade for the Mets, now it looks like a bust. Keep in mind, I think Lindor will be great longterm, but I’m separating the extension from the trade. Right now, just the trade looks horrendous for the Mets. That being said, Rosario is riding a hotstreak, he could easily cool off again. Lindor can get hot at any point as well.
Carrasco I think is only signed for this year? maybe next?
Anyhow by the time he gets back he will need the equivalent of a “spring training”
Mets should just forget about him in their plans and trade for pitching now before the deadline. If they have Cookie past this year they should leave him alone until then.
I wish Carrasco well as a Mets fan but his year in my mind is done.
Can’t get too happy with Lindor yet as the Mets have played for the most part the easiest competition in their schedule.
Peterson was pushed up from AA with no AAA; he should be sent down to fix things in AAA
Saw Ohtani pitch and hit at the stadium the other day; pretty cool! 🙂
He’s signed for at least 1 more year.
That must have been amazing. Ohtani is a legitimate drawing card. He can run, too. Already with nine steals and can really get down the line. He can possibly go 30/30 with 1o-plus wins. Pretty incredible.
Incredible yes. Still keep believing he’s going to end up having a better career with the bat and not pitching. They are losers this year anyway and hopefully he will be pulled from the rotation in August. There is no reason to burn his arm for nothing. Just keep thinking he’s going to have more arm trouble. The article on MLB about the Angels and Twins having a shot this year is crap. I’d limit him this year. Try to swing a few moves in the off-season and hope the youngsters progress. Also that Maddon is booted this off-season.
If Carrasco is able to be a factor late in the season that’s great. Mets have been lucky to be in first. Won’t last right now, playing like a 500 team. Lindor was an overpay. For what they gave up why not wait out the season and see how it played out. Worse comes to worse they would have gotten a first rounder out of it. Gimenez and Rosario weren’t much to give. Cleveland was looking to dump salary. Mets barely out score their opponents. Not getting past Dodgers even if taking division this year which I doubt will happen. Padres less than impressive. Old vets in San Francisco and Chicago along with Atlanta all will be around to lose this October.
The Mets should bring up at least 1 pitching prospect and put maybe Gselmann in the rotation and send Peterson down or make a trade for a pitcher
That’s WAY easier said than done. First, what pitching prospect? Zapucki is the only one close to being ready – & by “close,” I mean next season. Second, Gsellman as a starter? He’s already proven that doesn’t work & he’s much more valuable as a long reliever. Third, send Peterson down? OK, & replace him with whom? Fourth, make a trade for a pitcher? Who’s available & who do the Mets have with any trade value that isn’t needed on a day-to-day basis?
The biggest test for the Mets front office will be finding a way to fill the gap in the back end of the rotation between now and the return of Carrasco and Noah. They’ll probably be buyers at the trade deadline but that’s too far away.
I hope that Carrasco pulls a reverse 2016 – comes back healthy in September and helps the Mets win it all.
Mets need to change something with Peterson. He looked dominant a few starts ago and now can’t get out of his own way. His command is way off.
Unless the Mets make a deal, I think they need to think outside the box and scrap the short reliever norm. Start grouping guys like Lucchesi, Reid-Foley, Gsellman, Lugo, Peterson and any other former starter. Let these guys go once through the lineup/current inning snd then bring in another fresh arm to start the following inning.
If Rojas plans this in advance, it saves guys like Castro, May and Loup for late game winning situations.
Look how Houston is using it’s young duo back to back, for a 4 inning save!