The Atlanta Braves are at it again.
A team sitting comfortably atop the NL East with a 9.5-game division lead somehow continues to find new ways to keep Carlos Carrasco employed, designated for assignment, and then employed again. Before the matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Braves announced that they had selected the veteran right-hander’s contract back to the major league roster.
The Braves Never-Ending Carrasco Shuffle
Carrasco, affectionately known as “Cookie,” has become a familiar face on the transaction wire. At this point, he seems less like a pitcher and more like a permanent traveler attached to the Braves organization. One week, he’s on the active roster. The next one’s designated for assignment. Then he’s back again.
The reality is that Carrasco hasn’t been terrible in the limited opportunities he’s had. In fact, his surface numbers are perfectly respectable. Across his appearances this season, he owns a 2.45 ERA with a 4.17 FIP and 3.75 xFIP while producing 0.0 WAR. He’s recorded 22 outs total, which, given the frequency of his roster shuffling, works out to just over seven outs for every trip through the DFA process.
That’s not exactly the profile of a pitcher who demands daily headlines, but it does raise an obvious question: why does Major League Baseball continue forcing teams into these roster gymnastics?
A Problem Created by Roster Rules
Carrasco fills a role every club needs. He’s a veteran arm capable of soaking up multiple innings when a starter exits early or when a bullpen gets stretched thin. Teams used to carry pitchers specifically for that purpose. The modern roster rules limiting clubs to 13 pitchers often leave organizations scrambling to cycle arms between the majors and minors whenever they need fresh innings.
For Atlanta, Carrasco has essentially become the human embodiment of that problem.
The Braves clearly see value in keeping him around. Otherwise, they would have moved on long ago. Yet roster restrictions repeatedly force the club into the same transaction loop, sending Carrasco through the DFA process only to bring him back days later.
A simple expansion to 14 pitchers would eliminate much of this churn. Players like Carrasco could remain available in the role they were signed to fill, rather than constantly bouncing on and off the roster.
Meanwhile, Braves Fans Have Bigger Arguments
While Atlanta keeps recycling Carrasco through the transaction process, some fans have found other things to debate. Somehow, discussions about trading Ronald Acuña Jr. have surfaced despite the outrage that followed even the suggestion of not extending him not all that long ago.
Compared to those conversations, Carrasco’s roster carousel feels relatively harmless.
Still, there’s something undeniably funny about watching the veteran right-hander repeatedly pack his bags, board another flight, and rejoin the club. The Braves continue calling his number whenever they need innings, and Carrasco keeps answering.
At some point, Atlanta might as well reserve a rental Escalade in his name and leave it running. Carrasco keeps following the Braves around the country anyway.
