Mets' Carlos Carrasco looks sharp in rehab assignment

Carlos Carrasco pitched a rehab outing for Triple-A Syracuse Sunday, with Mets manager Luis Rojas telling reporters (including The New York Post’s Mike Puma) that the righty’s “stuff was great.” It now seems as if Carrasco is finally ready to make his Mets debut, as a source tells Puma that the veteran is likely to be activated from the 60-day injured list for his next outing, which would seem to line up for next weekend’s series against the Reds.

Acquired along with Francisco Lindor in perhaps the biggest trade of the offseason, Carrasco suffered a torn right hamstring during spring training. Initially expected to miss roughly six to eight weeks, Carrasco has now missed most of the season after his recovery took longer than expected. Assuming Carrasco is healthy and able to return to his usual above-average form, he’ll be able to provide immediate help to a Mets rotation that has been shorthanded by injuries.

More from the NL East…

• The Marlins have offered first-round draft pick Kahlil Watson a $4.5 million bonus, The Miami Herald’s Craig Mish reports (via Twitter). This figure would put the Marlins in excess of their overall draft pool limit, but under the five percent penalty threshold with a bit of room to spare, according to MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis (Twitter link). Any team that exceeds its draft spending pool by more than five percent would be penalized future picks, so in staying under the five percent line, the Marlins would have to pay only a 75 percent tax on the overage. Miami’s offer is well above the $3,745,500 assigned slot price for the 16th overall pick, but extra money was likely to be necessary considering that many pundits expected Watson to be selected near the top of the draft board, before he surprisingly fell to the Marlins’ pick.
• Drew Smyly left Saturday’s game after four innings due to soreness in his left knee, but testing Sunday revealed no structural damage, The Athletic’s David O’Brien tweets. Presuming no setbacks, the Braves left-hander should be able to take the ball for his next start. Smyly didn’t pitch well over the season’s first two months but he has quietly regained his form, posting a 2.19 ERA over his last seven starts and 37 innings.