The Braves are turning to experience over promise, banking on Carlos Carrasco to bring some much-needed steadiness to an injury-battered pitching staff.
Atlanta picked up the 38-year-old right-hander from the Yankees on Monday in exchange for cash. It wasn’t a blockbuster. But given the state of their rotation, it might end up being one of those unglamorous moves that makes a difference in September.
Another Arm in the Emergency Room of the NL East
Atlanta’s rotation isn’t just thin—it’s patched together with duct tape and hope.
Five of their key arms are either shelved or somewhere in limbo. Chris Sale, who looked like an ace again earlier this season, is out with a rib fracture. Reynaldo López’s shoulder is acting up. Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes, and AJ Smith-Shawver? All dealing with elbow issues.
The Braves’ front office is clearly in triage mode.
Carrasco may not be 2017 Carrasco, when he was dealing for Cleveland, but right now, they’re not looking for dominance. They’re looking for innings. And the Venezuelan veteran still has some of those left.
Carrasco’s 2025 So Far: Not Great, But Not Done Yet
Carrasco’s season hasn’t been smooth. He started the year with the Yankees, and it didn’t go well.
In 8 games—6 of them starts—he posted a 5.91 ERA. The Yankees designated him for assignment in May. That usually means the end of the road.
But Carrasco stuck around.
He accepted a Triple-A assignment to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and here’s the twist—he actually pitched pretty well down there.
-
In 11 appearances (10 starts), he posted a 4-2 record and a 3.27 ERA.
-
He struck out 49 over 55 innings, walking just 12 batters.
-
Opponents hit just .241 off him at the Triple-A level.
So, no, he’s not blowing anyone away. But in a league starved for innings-eaters who can survive six frames without imploding, those numbers matter.
The Braves’ Recent Rotation Shuffle Is No Coincidence
This move comes just a day after the Braves made another under-the-radar pitching pickup—righty Erick Fedde from the Cardinals.
Fedde, too, had been designated for assignment. Sound familiar? Atlanta’s front office is clearly scouring the league for arms that can contribute without costing prospects or top-tier talent.
This isn’t about upside. It’s about survival.
Here’s a quick look at the Braves’ rotation status after both additions:
| Pitcher | Status | Injury/Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Sale | IL | Rib fracture |
| Reynaldo López | IL | Shoulder inflammation |
| Spencer Schwellenbach | IL | Elbow discomfort |
| Grant Holmes | IL | Elbow soreness |
| AJ Smith-Shawver | IL | Elbow strain |
| Charlie Morton | Active | 6 IP, 2 ER in last start |
| Max Fried | Active | Staff ace |
| Erick Fedde | Just acquired | DFA by Cardinals |
| Carlos Carrasco | Just acquired | From Yankees’ Triple-A |
That’s five starters out, two new ones in, and an ever-thinner margin for error.
A Career That’s Seen It All
Carrasco isn’t your average journeyman. His résumé has a bit of everything—dominant stretches, devastating injuries, and a remarkable comeback from leukemia.
He’s thrown over 1,700 innings in the big leagues, mostly for Cleveland, where he spent over a decade. He was traded to the Mets in the Francisco Lindor deal, stuck around New York through 2023, returned briefly to Cleveland (now the Guardians) in 2024, and landed with the Yankees this year.
Now, it’s Atlanta.
His career stats are solid:
-
112 wins,
-
4.18 ERA,
-
1,601 strikeouts in 332 games (283 starts).
One sentence says a lot: the man knows how to pitch.
Why This Move Makes Sense—Even If It’s Not Splashy
You know what the Braves didn’t give up here? A prospect. Or a roster player. Or anything more than a little cash.
Carrasco is a low-risk, medium-reward pickup for a team that can’t afford to lean only on its bullpen.
What’s more, he’s got postseason experience—13 games, 3.70 ERA. He’s been around, pitched under pressure, and knows how to adapt. That kind of maturity matters in a clubhouse leaning on younger arms and fresh call-ups.
If he gives the Braves even five innings per start for a few weeks, it’s worth every penny.
Could This Be the Last Rodeo?
At 38, Carrasco is nearing the twilight of his career. But don’t expect him to go quietly.
He’s always been a competitor. Even after undergoing leukemia treatment in 2019, he came back the next year and kept grinding. That’s not something every player can do.
He’s now gone from DFA’d to potentially starting for a playoff contender in just two months. That says something, doesn’t it?
Still, questions linger. Can he handle the uptick in competition again? Will the Braves lean on him as a starter, or use him more as a long reliever?
For now, the Braves are giving him a shot. And Carrasco, as he’s shown time and again, won’t shy away from it.
