It looks like the Mets iconic black jerseys aren’t the only thing making their return on Friday. On Thursday, it was announced that Carlos Carrasco will make his Mets debut Friday night. New York acquired Carrasco last winter in the Francisco Lindor deal. At the time it was expected he would be the Mets second starter. However, the pitcher tore his hamstring prior to the season. Now, after spending the year rehabbing the right-hander will make his Citi Field debut in the Mets black jerseys.
“It was really cool because when we were doing the photo stuff for all the promo stuff, he was like a kid in a candy store,” Alonso said. “He’s super excited to put on the threads and I’m excited for him and I know he is going to go out there and give a gem.”
Carrasco’s return comes at a much needed time for the Mets. Both Jacob deGrom and David Peterson remain on the IL. They made a deal for Rich Hill last week for a short term and kind of desperate starting pitching solution. On game two of Monday’s double header they were forced to pitch 6 pitchers in 7 innings in place of a starter. So Carrasco’s health comes at an important time. A time where the Mets find themselves still gunning for first place in the NL East.
“Just having five starters in the rotation, I think it’s been a while since we’ve had five guys in the rotation and [Carrasco] is a big piece,” Taijuan Walker said. “Just having his presence in there, and him going out there and being back, it’s almost like getting a piece at the [trade] deadline for us. He’s a veteran, he knows how to pitch and he’s going to be huge for us.”
Trade Deadline
The Mets still remain a name in much of the trade deadline conversations. Last week, acting GM Zack Scott put acquiring a starting pitcher at the top of his list for Friday’s deadline. Perhaps the return of Carrasco takes away some of that urgency. Unless it is the right name I don’t see the Mets making a deal. Jose Berrios has been a named target for the Mets. However, Minnesota’s asking price remains too high. New York. They missed out on the Max Scherzer sweepstakes. I think the priority shifts to adding much-needed bats to the Mets offense.
The Cubs traded Anthony Rizzo today to the Yankees. Could they send their other star Kris Bryant to another New York team tomorrow? There’s no doubt moves should be made. But the return of Carlos Carrasco comes at an incredible time for the New York Mets.
