CLEVELAND, Ohio – Carlos Carrasco said his family was sad to leave Cleveland, but was happy that his teammate Francisco Lindor would go with him.
The Indians traded Carrasco and Lindor with the New York Mets on Thursday for indoor players Andres Gimenez, Amed Rosario, right-handed Josh Wolf and outfielder Isaiah Greene. Carrasco has been with the Indians since 2009, while Lindor was the team’s first choice in 2011.
While trade was slowing, Carrasco told MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Lindor called him and said, “Hey, Cookie, we’re leaving. We’re going out together. ‘I said Oh, my God. “
Carrasco, 33, has constantly contributed to the rotation of the Indians for almost 10 seasons. He made his major league debut in 2009, after being acquired from the Phillies in the Cliff Lee business.
“I learned a lot in Cleveland,” said Carrasco. “They gave me an opportunity since July 1, 2009, when I was traded there until now.
“I give them all the credit for teaching me how to launch and grow. This is a new chapter. It is a great opportunity for me to play in the New York Mets. My family and I are very happy. “
He is especially happy that Lindor will be playing shortstop behind him.
“I love to play with Lindor,” he said. “I always say thanks to him. I always say, from the first day, ‘you are a star’. That’s what he is, a superstar. He knows how to do everything. I love having it on the shortstop. Now we are moving together and things are going to be good for us and for Mets. “
Carrasco will join a rotation that features two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz. Noah Syndergaard, recovering from Tommy John’s surgery, may also return.
“I have 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 Mets and they have deGrom, Syndergaard, Stroman … all these guys. Will be very good.
“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 will be very, very fun. “
Carrasco won the sympathy of his Indian colleagues and the city of Cleveland for his charity work. In 2019 he received the Roberto Clemente Award for his goodwill work in Cleveland and around the world.
He also offered inspiration, dealing with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2019. The disease cost him three months of the season, but he came back as a pain reliever in September. This year, he made all 12 games, going 3-4 with an ERA of 2.91 out of 68 entries.
“I’m trying to enjoy every moment in baseball because baseball is not forever,” said Carrasco. “This is what I am doing now. Taking advantage of this moment. “
He said that when his wife, Karilis, and five children learned that he had been negotiated with the Mets, they were sad.
“We spent a lot of 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 very sad.
“But at the same time, that is part of the game. They completely understand what is going on. Now I’m going to enjoy our new team, our new community and new fans and new friends. “
He said he will get involved in community activities with Mets as soon as he can.
“That’s what we like to do,” said Carrasco. “My wife and I have a very good team. We will do the same thing we did in Cleveland. “
Carrasco’s best season came in 2018. He made 18-6 with an ERA of 3.29 in 32 matches. He hit 226 hits in 200 innings.
A variety of Cleveland Indians face masks available online today. (Fanatics.com)
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