"Nobody who will be missed . . . "
A year ago, Carlos Carrasco went to the Futures Game with the "Untouchable" sticker on his forehead. If you look closely today, there's a faint adhesive patch still showing. It was stripped during his mostly off season in Triple A. Fortunately, Amaro does not write "Untouchable" using indelible ink.
Yesterday, the organization finally ended a patient wait for the Venezuelan righthander to touch the high ceiling projected for a teenager signed with little more than a promise of future size and a sizzling fastball. The latter earned him a green card.
Carlos moved to the head of the package for Cliff Lee with a minor league record of 45-44 and a 4.14 ERA compiled during six seasons less about 6 weeks. He has not had a shining season. Amaro would have faced a tough roster decision. Was the former prodigy worth a 40-man spot to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft? The Indians made his decision an easy one. The toughest part of the baseball business is walking away from a player you once considered can't-miss. But time dulls that ardor for a GM and the best ones never permit themselves to fall in love with organizational mistakes. Maybe Carrasco will learn to "man up" in a different uniform. He effectively took himself out of any conversation Amaro was having with the Blue Jays in the Halladay sweepstakes. He produced a meandering six-run outing his last start with Toronto scouts taking notes. When Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi turned down a Phillies five-pack for Halladay that included Carrasco and versatile outfielder Michael Taylor, Amaro knew it was time to shift gears and turn his attention to Plan B, which was Clifton Phifer Lee, incumbent AL Cy Young winner.
