TAMPA, Fla. — Carlos Carrasco’s standout performance this spring has earned him a major league contract with the New York Yankees and a place in their starting rotation.
The Yankees announced on Saturday that they had signed Carrasco to a one-year deal.
At 38 years old, Carrasco initially joined the Yankees on a minor league contract on February 5, with the option to opt out on Saturday. However, his impressive 1.69 ERA across five spring training appearances, including four starts, secured him the new contract with New York.
Carrasco will earn a $1.5 million salary if he’s in the major leagues, $180,000 in the minors, and has the potential to earn up to $2.5 million in performance bonuses based on his starts: $150,000 each for 12, 14, 16, and 18 starts, $250,000 each for 20, 22, 24, and 26 starts, and $450,000 each for 28 and 30 starts.
Last season, Carrasco went 3-10 with a 5.64 ERA in 21 starts for Cleveland. Over 15 seasons, he has a career record of 110-103 with a 4.14 ERA. He led the American League in wins in 2017 with a 18-6 record for Cleveland.
In a related move, the Yankees placed right-hander Gerrit Cole on the 60-day injured list as he undergoes season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Additionally, an injury to Clarke Schmidt has opened up a spot for Carrasco. General manager Brian Cashman confirmed that Schmidt, recovering from back stiffness and a sore shoulder, will start the season on the injured list.
