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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Carlos Carrasco said his family were sad to leave Cleveland, but he was happy that his teammate Francisco Lindor was accompanying him.
On Thursday, the Indians traded Carrasco and Lindor to the New York Mets for infielders Andres Gimenez, Amed Rosario, right-hander Josh Wolf and outfielder Isaiah Greene. Carrasco has been with the Indians since 2009, while Lindor was the team’s first choice in 2011.
As business dwindled, Carrasco told MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Lindor called him and said, “Hey, Cookie, we’re leaving. We leave together. I said Oh, my God.
Carrasco, 33, has been a regular contributor to Indians rotation for nearly 10 seasons. He made his big league debut in 2009 after being acquired from the Phillies in the Cliff Lee affair.
“I learned a lot in Cleveland,” Carrasco said. “They gave me an opportunity from day one, July 29, 2009, when I was traded there until now.
“I give them all the credit for teaching me how to present and how to grow. This is a new chapter. It’s a great opportunity for me to play with the New York Mets. My family and I are really happy.
He is especially happy that Lindor is playing the shortstop behind him.
“I love playing with Lindor,” he said. “I always say thank you to him. I always say from day one, “you are a superstar”. That’s what he is, a superstar. He can do everything. Love having it on the shortstop. Now we are moving together and things are going to be good for us and good for the Mets.
Carrasco will join a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz, two-time winner of Cy Young. Noah Syndergaard, who is recovering from Tommy John’s surgery, could also return.
“I’ve been with a lot of good pitchers – Shane Bieber and Trevor Bauer, who won Cy Youngs last year. Corey Kluber won two Cy Young. Now I go to the Mets and they have deGrom, Syndergaard, Stroman … all these guys. It’s gonna be really cool.
“I like to learn from other pitchers and other people. I like to ask questions even now, when I’m almost 10 years old in the big leagues. … It’s going to be really fun.
Carrasco was loved by his Indian teammates and the city of Cleveland for his charitable work. In 2019, he received the Roberto Clemente Award for his goodwill work in Cleveland and around the world.
He also offered his inspiration, dealing with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2019. The disease cost him three months of the season, but he returned as a relief in September. This year he’s made his 12 starts, going 3-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 68 innings.
“I try to enjoy every moment in baseball because baseball is not forever,” Carrasco said. “That’s what I’m doing right now. Take advantage of this moment. “
He said when his wife, Karilis, and five children learned he had been traded to the Mets, they were sad.
“We spent so much time in Cleveland, in the community with friends,” he said. “All that stuff. They were happy because we were going on a new team and a new chapter, but to be honest with you my family was really sad.
“But at the same time, it’s part of the game. They fully understand what’s going on. Now, I’m going to enjoy our new team, our new community, and new fans and new friends. “
He said he would get involved in community activities with the Mets as soon as he can.
“That’s what we love to do,” Carrasco said. “My wife and I have a very good team. We will do the same as we did in Cleveland.
Carrasco’s best season came in 2018. He finished 18-6 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 starts. He struck out 226 batters in 200 innings.
A variety of Cleveland Indian face masks available online today. (Fanatics.com)
Indian masks for sale: Here’s where you can purchase Cleveland Indian-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($ 14.99) and a 3-pack ($ 24.99). All MLB profits are donated to charity.
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