Carlos Carrasco’s brief tenure with the New York Yankees has concluded after he was designated for assignment following a rocky start to the season. The veteran right-hander struggled to find his rhythm, managing only 32 innings across eight appearances—six of which were starts—while posting a disappointing 5.91 ERA.
Carrasco joined the Yankees on a minor-league deal in February after spending a challenging 2024 season with the Cleveland Guardians. Initially brought in to bolster the pitching depth, he was thrust into the rotation due to injuries to key pitchers such as Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil, and Clarke Schmidt during spring training.
This latest chapter adds to Carrasco’s recent struggles as he has recorded a 5.00 ERA or higher in four of the last six seasons. His past, however, is dotted with notable achievements; from 2014 to 2018, he was a top performer, posting an impressive 3.27 ERA over 856 innings while with Cleveland and earning a fourth-place finish in the Cy Young voting in 2017.
Carrasco’s career took a major detour in 2019 when he was diagnosed with leukemia, but he made a commendable comeback. After battling injuries with the New York Mets, where he posted a 5.21 ERA over three seasons, he returned to Cleveland before his stint with the Yankees.
With Carrasco now off the roster, the Yankees will need to find an alternative for their rotation. Potential candidates include Yerry de los Santos, who has a solid 2.91 ERA in Triple A but has not started this season, or reliever Ryan Yarbrough, who stepped in as a spot starter recently. The Yankees are navigating a precarious situation, with several pitchers still on the mend.
In a situation like this, it’s important to remember that the nature of sports often comes with ups and downs. Carrasco has experienced both highs and lows during his career, and while this latest chapter may be a setback, it also opens doors to new opportunities, whether that’s through a potential revival with another team or a renewed focus on development and recovery.
This presents a moment for reflection in Carrasco’s journey; while his recent performances have been disappointing, the baseball community holds out hope for a resurgence, as many players find new pathways to success even after facing challenges.