The New York Yankees signed veteran Starting Pitcher Carlos Carrasco to a minor league deal on Monday afternoon. If Carrasco ends up making it to the majors in 2025, he will have a base salary of $1.5 million. He can make a maximum of $2.5 million if he meets particular performance-based incentives in the big leagues.
Carrasco is coming off a terrible 2024 season with the Cleveland Guardians. He was 3-10 with a miserable 5.64 ERA. He would have the league’s worst ERA if he had enough starts to qualify. Carrasco was a solid starter earlier in his career but has fallen on tough times as of late. He has a 5.00 ERA or higher in three of his last four seasons. Will Carrasco be able to make a sizable impact with the New York Yankees in 2025?
Coming off their first World Series trip since 2009, the New York Yankees have had a disappointing offseason overall. They were unable to re-sign Right Fielder Juan Soto as he departed to the cross-town rival New York Mets. Carrasco joins a crowded Yankees starting rotation that includes Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodon among others.
New York’s starting rotation was strong during the 2024 regular season. They were seventh in ERA, fourth in strikeouts, and fifth in opposing batting average. Their staring rotation fared well in the MLB Playoffs as well. They were fourth in ERA and sixth in WHIP. New York was drubbed in the World Series by the Los Angeles Dodgers as their offense let them down. The pitching staff held up its end of the bargain, but they could not overcome a putrid offensive output. They surrendered 25 runs over the five World Series games.
Final Thoughts
Carrasco’s recent performance indicates he will not make much of an impact for the New York Yankees in 2025. He will turn 38 early in the season. This may be his final chance to be on a roster in Major League Baseball. New York, even with the loss of Soto, did a fair job of rounding out its roster this offseason to compete in a loaded American League. With Carrasco at this point in his career, any contribution they can get from him would be a welcome one.