Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Carlos Carrasco was introduced to the media on Tuesday afternoon after being acquired by the Mets along with Francisco Lindor last week.
The right-hander touched on a variety of topics at the press conference including how excited he is to join the Mets, his role in the community and even who else he’d like to see join the team.
Carrasco Believes in 2021 Mets
Right from the get-go, it was very clear that Carrasco is very optimistic about the 2021 Mets, lauding the team’s rotation and the overall talent on the roster.
“We have a great team,” Carrasco said. “We’re going to make it to the playoffs, we’re even going to make it to the World Series too.”
He also mentioned that James McCann is “a really good catcher” and talked about how he thinks highly of the Mets’ 2021 rotation. He specifically referenced Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Noah Syndergaard.
Lindor And Carrasco Are Happy To Stay Together
Carrasco also very clearly noted how close him and Lindor are, especially now after coming over from Cleveland together.
He said that “it’s really nice” being with Lindor still and going on this journey together. Carrasco said that he and Lindor are very excited and that they are constantly texting about how great it is to be with the Mets.
Staying together is something that both of them intimated increased their comfort level after being traded to the Mets.
Battle With Leukemia Has Impacted Him Dramatically
Another topic that came up during the introductory press conference was his battle with Leukemia in 2019, which he answered multiple questions on.
He said that his wife was “always by [his] side” during that time and also credited everyone he was playing with on the Cleveland Indians for putting their support behind him.
One thing that he noted as important for him going through that was that he needed to “always have faith.” Carrasco mentioned that he hopes that is a perspective that many around the world have right now during this difficult time.
Carrasco returned that season and, upon his return, pitched out of the bullpen. He said that was a “really great experience” for him and that “he learned a lot from it.” He also talked about how it is very different pitching as a reliever as compared to as a starter.
His Role In The Community Is Important
The 33-year-old also talked about how his role in the community really is something that matters to him, and that he even focused on it during his battle with Leukemia. It made him “want to get closer to people, to more kids.”
Carrasco believes that it’s important for athletes like himself to make a difference in the community as his track record of doing so with Cleveland suggested prior to this introductory press conference.
In 2019, he won the Roberto Clemente Award for his charitable work around the globe.
He’d Love The Mets To Get Bauer Or Kluber
The final question of the day was related to two of Carrasco’s former teammates, Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber.
Both of them are currently on the free agent market and the Mets have been linked to both at various points during the offseason.
Carrasco said he’d “love” for one of the two pitchers to join the Mets’ rotation in 2021, alluding to how great it was to be teammates with both of them.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported that the Mets will be attending Kluber’s showcase on Wednesday.
