Carlos Carrasco said his family was tragic to leave Cleveland, however he was happy that his colleague Francisco Lindor was going with him.
The Indians exchanged Carrasco and Lindor to the New York Mets on Thursday 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 group’s No.1 pick in 2011.
As the exchange was going down, Carrasco says that Lindor called him and stated, “Hey, Cookie, we’re leaving. We’re leaving together.’ I said Oh, my God.”
Carrasco, 33, has been a consistent supporter of the Indians’ pivot for almost 10 seasons. He made his major group debut in 2009 subsequent to being gained from the Phillies in the Cliff Lee arrangement.
“I learned a lot in Cleveland,” said Carrasco. “They gave me an opportunity from Day 1 on July 29, 2009 when I got traded there right up until now.
“I give them full credit for teaching me how to pitch and grow up. This is a new chapter. It’s a big opportunity for me to play with the New York Mets. Me and my family are really happy.”
He is particularly glad that Lindor will play shortstop behind him.
“I love to play with Lindor,” he said. “I always say thank you to him. I always say from Day 1, ‘you’re a superstar.’ That’s what he is, a superstar. He knows how to do everything. I love to have have him at shortstop. Now we’re moving together and things are going to be good for us and good for the Mets.”
Carrasco will join a turn that highlights double cross Cy Young victor Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz. Noah Syndergaard, recuperating from Tommy John medical procedure, could return also.
“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 Youngs. Now I’m going to the Mets and they have deGrom, Syndergaard, Stroman all those guys. It’s going to be really nice.”
“I enjoy learning from other pitchers and other people. I like to ask questions even now when I’ve got almost 10 years in the big leagues. It’s going to be really, really fun.”
Carrasco charmed himself to his Indians colleagues and the city of Cleveland for his cause work. In 2019 he got the Roberto Clemente Award for his generosity work in Cleveland and around the globe.
He offered motivation too, managing constant myeloid leukemia in 2019. The infection cost him three months of the period, however he returned as a reliever in September. This year he made every one of the 12 of his beginnings, going 3-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 68 innings.
“I’m trying to enjoy every moment in baseball because baseball is not forever,” said Carrasco. “That’s what I’m doing right now. Enjoying this moment.”
He said when his better half, Karilis, and five kids discovered that he’d been exchanged to the Mets they were tragic.
“We spent so much time in Cleveland, in the community with friends,” he said. “All that kind of stuff. They were happy because we were going to a new team and a new chapter, but to be honest with you my family was really sad.”
“But at the same time this is part of the game. They completely 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 will engage in network exercises with the Mets when he can.
“That’s what we love to do,” said Carrasco. “My wife and me have a pretty good team. We’ll do the same thing we did in Cleveland.”
Carrasco’s best season came in 2018. He went 18-6 with a 3.29 ERA in 32 beginnings. He struck out 226 hitters in 200 innings.
