3 pitchers the Phillies should target as minor league depth this season

Carlos Carrasco

Carlos Carrasco is another name Philadelphia Phillies fans know well. The once highly touted Phillies prospect was traded to Cleveland for some guy named Cliff Lee at the Trade Deadline in 2009. Yeah, I don't remember Lee either.

Carrasco had his best run as a major league pitcher from 2015 to 2018, solidifying himself as a viable starting pitcher. 2017 was a career year for Carrasco as he compiled a record of 18-6, a 3.29 ERA, and 226 strikeouts in 200 innings. He would follow that up in 2018 with another solid season that saw the then 31-year-old win another 17 games and strike out a career-high 231 batters.

2019 was a tough time for Carrasco on and off the field. He missed three months of the season after being diagnosed with leukemia in May. With the exception of a solid 2022 with the New York Mets that saw him post a record of 15-7, he hasn't been a reliable starter who can provide innings since before his cancer diagnosis.

Carrasco recently threw a live bullpen session for interested scouts at Driveline Baseball.

Carlos Carrasco could be an intriguing option if the Phillies want to stash away a veteran pitcher in the minor leagues for a late-season push or a spot start in the event injuries should strike in the starting rotation. Only two years removed from a 15-7 season, the Phillies could do worse than signing the 36-year-old to a minor league deal to see if he has anything left in the tank.