Mets Rumors: NYM Listening to Offers on Carlos Carrasco After Verlander Deal, More

After adding to their starting rotation in free agency, the New York Mets are listening to trade offers on Carlos Carrasco, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

"The ideal return would be a projectable young starter with options and a chance to contribute as soon as this coming season," Sherman added.

The Mets have already spent big on starters this offseason, adding Justin Verlander, José Quintana and Koudai Senga to slot in behind ace Max Scherzer.

If Carrasco is traded, the final spot in the rotation would likely come down to David Peterson and Tylor Megill. Elieser Hernandez could also provide depth after starting 10 games last season with the Miami Marlins.

Carrasco should draw significant interest on the open market after going 15-7 with a 3.97 ERA in 29 starts last season. The 35-year-old struggled during an injury-marred 2021 season, but he bounced back in a big way in 2022 with 152 strikeouts in 152 innings.

The veteran posted a 3.77 ERA across 11 seasons with Cleveland before coming to New York, finishing fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2017. Carrasco is under contract for one more season at $14 million.

Trading a proven starter could still be a risky move for the Mets after they lost Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker via free agency. Scherzer, 38, was limited to just 23 starts in 2022 due to injuries, while Verlander, 39, made just one start across 2020 and 2021 before returning last season.

With Senga unproven at the major league level after coming from Japan, there are still question marks about the Mets rotation.