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By Maren Angus-Coombs
Contributing Sports Writer
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Carlos Carrasco's time with the Cleveland Guardians came to an end, again, on Tuesday when he was designated for assignment.
The 37-year-old posted a 3-10 record with a 5.64 ERA in 21 starts this season.
The victim of a roster crunch, Carrasco was just one of several roster moves made ahead of Cleveland's game against the Minnesota Twins. Cleveland placed All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan on the injured list with a back injury and recalled outfielder Myles Straw.
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Carrasco hadn't appeared on a major league mound since August because of a left hip strain. He didn't help his chances for a return after his most recent minor league rehabilitation start went south on Friday. He threw three innings with the Guardians' Double-A affiliate and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out three.
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Carrasco was in his second stint with the Guardians after rejoining the team as a free agent in February. The 37-year-old spent the previous three seasons with the New York Mets, having been traded as part of the Francisco Lindor deal.
He inscribed his name in the franchise history book earlier this season when became the 15th pitcher in franchise history to make 200 starts with Cleveland — the first since Corey Kluber in 2019.
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A fan favorite, "Cookie" has appeared in 263 games over 12 seasons with Cleveland and led the American League with 18 wins in 2017. During his first stint with the Guardians, from 2009-20, he posted a 3.77 ERA with 1,305 strikeouts over 1,242.1 innings. He also finished 13th in Cy Young voting in 2015 and fourth in 2017.
Carrasco was deeply involved in the Cleveland community, often visiting sick children at the Cleveland Clinic and engaging with fans. His bond with the city strengthened when many rallied around him during his fight with leukemia for most of the 2019 season. Just months after his emotional return to the mound, he was traded to New York alongside Francisco Lindor.
His return led to a reunion with the city and the people who helped save his life while he battled cancer.
"[I've heard] from everyone," Carrasco said during spring training. "The Clinic that I went to in Cleveland, restaurants, friends, everyone. ... They're pretty happy that I'm here."
Since leaving Cleveland, Carrasco faced a series of injuries. In 2021, a hamstring strain limited him to 12 starts. He made 29 starts in 2022, posting a 3.97 ERA, but dealt with a left oblique flare-up late in the season. Last year, he missed a month due to right elbow inflammation and ended the season early with a right pinky fracture.
Cleveland (87-65) holds the second-best record in the AL, and perhaps their best chance of a World Series run since they fell one game short of a championship in 2016. The storybook ending — one fans were rooting for — would have seen Carrasco in uniform to avenge the Guardians' World Series loss to the Cubs.
Instead, with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, Carrasco seems unlikely to pitch in his adopted hometown again.
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