All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor understandably received the bulk of headlines last week as the biggest name to switch teams in the blockbuster trade involving the New York Mets and Cleveland Indians.
Right-handed starter Carlos Carrasco also completed a move from Cleveland to the Big Apple via that deal. The veteran who turns 34 years old in March met with reporters on Tuesday and campaigned for his new employer to sign former Indians teammates Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber:
"It would be nice to see one of those guys in a Mets uniform too"
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 12, 2021
Carlos Carrasco would love to see the Mets add Trevor Bauer or Corey Kluber to their rotation: pic.twitter.com/ZnPn8ngfU2
As noted by The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Carrasco is joining a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz. Noah Syndergaard is on track to return from Tommy John surgery at some point in the summer, and it remains unclear if the Mets will use Seth Lugo as a starter or out of the bullpen.
There's always room for another Cy Young Award winner in the group, but Bauer and Kluber are two different types of free agents this winter. Bauer earned the 2020 National League honor and, per MLB insider Jon Heyman, could make between $36 million and $40 million per season from a new contract. The 29-year-old recently sported a Mets hat while speaking about the trade involving Lindor and Carrasco.
Kluber, meanwhile, turns 35 years old in April and has started only two official games since May 1, 2019. The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner is set to throw a bullpen session for interested clubs on Wednesday.
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