Not long after the World Series, the Cleveland Indians made it known to the rest of the industry that they would take offers for their best available starting pitchers — two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, right-hander Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer, who was coming off a breakout performance in 2018.
It was not part of the Indians’ strategy at the time to work out an unusual contract extension through their trade conversations, but that’s exactly what happened. Carrasco has really enjoyed his time with the Indians, and likes the life that he has built for himself in Cleveland. So after the first reports of the Indians’ willingness to trade a starting pitcher, Carrasco and his agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, approached the team about extending his existing contract.