Carlos Carrasco Returns to Cleveland Guardians: Exploring Potential Roles for the 2024 Season

Carlos Carrasco has rejoined the Cleveland Guardians organization after spending the first 11 seasons of his career there. The agreement is a two-year minor league deal, which reportedly escalates to $2 million if he ascends to the big league roster.

This deal might appear a bit perplexing given the current state of Cleveland’s pitching staff. Nevertheless, there are a couple of potential roles we might see Carrasco fill during the 2024 season. The most apparent role is that of a starter. While the rotation is currently set, the unpredictability of injuries and inconsistent performances demonstrated in 2023 suggests that a seemingly dominant pitching staff can swiftly change.

If the Guardians encounter a scenario where Triston McKenzie, Shane Bieber, or any of the starters are sidelined for an extended period, the organization can rely on Carrasco, a seasoned pitcher, to step in. However, there’s also the possibility of a fully healthy rotation with Carrasco on the big league roster. It’s worth noting that Carrasco initially emerged through the Cleveland organization as a starter but transitioned into a relief pitcher during the 2013-14 seasons. Although he returned to a starting role afterward, his success as a reliever is evident in his habitual pitching from the stretch, even with no runners on base.

Given his background as a reliever and his advanced career stage, the notion of Carrasco serving as a multi-inning relief pitcher is certainly plausible.

Regardless of the role Carrasco assumes for the 2024 season, having a player of his caliber, experience, and character back in the organization is undoubtedly beneficial.