Mets Sign D.J. Carrasco
According to various reports, the Mets have reached an agreement with reliever D.J. Carrasco on a 2-year, $2.5M deal.
Though I’m not terribly excited about this move, it’s a cheap, fairly low-risk contract for someone who is more or less filler material in the bullpen. I have to say I’m a little surprised the Mets gave a two-year deal to a fairly mediocre pitcher who will turn 34 soon after Opening Day. But I guess that’s what the Mets can afford right now, and they don’t have much MLB-ready help for the ‘pen down on the farm.
Carrasco is a tall (6’4″) righthander with a wicked slider and inconsistent command of a low-90s fastball. He’s been durable and has improved his numbers every year since returning from a year in Japan and moving to the bullpen full-time (he was originally a starter with the KC Royals) in 2008. He’ll get swings and misses (7.5 K/9 last year) but he also gives away free passes (3.9 BB/9 in ’10). In addition to his durability, another positive is that he can go more than one inning at a time and he rarely gives up the longball. Every once in a while he drops his arm angle, which is nice for entertainment value but practically useless from a performance standpoint (think: Oliver Perez dropping down).
The Mets need all the arms they can find, and this one should help them get through the rough times over the next two years.
By the way, you might remember D.J. Carrasco for helping the Mets win on July 31st in his first appearance as a Diamondback. Also a bit of trivia: former Met farmhand Mike Carp hit his first MLB homerun off Carrasco. Don’t ask me how or why I know this.
