The Red Sox ace minus option

Sep 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (59) delivers in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Carrasco: 14-12, 183.2 IP, 154 H, 74 R, 216 K, 43 BB, 3.63 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 2.84 FIP, 2.66 xFIP, 4.8 WAR.

Swing and miss stuff from Carrasco with a five pitch repertoire. Carrasco, a 28-year-old right-hander, who had the fifth best fastball velocity in the American League at 94.5 MPH. What also draws some attention is one stat in the ever-expanding universe of metrics – SIERA. That acronym is for Skill-Interactive ERA – say that fast five times. Carrasco was second in the league behind Sale.

Carrasco is either a one season wonder or a late-blooming star who could be a shutdown ace. Was 2015 the breakout year or an illusion? That is the inherent risk of dealing for someone with a limited baseball resume. And, dealing it would be.

The contract for Carrasco runs through 2020 with a few team buyout options tossed in. For the Indians, for whom Carrasco pitches, to surrender to a deal it would certainly be one where the return would expect to be substantial. Why they would trade a budding talent? The gamble is if Carrasco has reached his baseball ceiling and best to sell high.

The tale of the tape regarding the American League East is interesting. In three games at Fenway Park Carrasco has been beaten harder than an oriental rug at spring cleaning time. In 12.1 innings the stat line plugs in 20 hits and a 1.95 WHIP. Before closing that curtain the stats at New York show a 3-0 record with a 0.48 ERA, so the dreaded Yankees have turned into the Bronx Cream puffs against Carlos.

The move on Carrasco is, to me, like a minefield – cross it and sooner or later you have not exactly the best day of your life – if you take a wrong step. The talent transferred to the Midwest and the risk of Carrasco isn’t the real deal would make me a very cautious GM.