Former Cy Young Candidate DFA'd for 5th Time This Season

It's tough when you have 112 wins on your resume, but your career falls to a point where you get designated for assignment. But DFA'd five times? In one season? That's the story for veteran pitcher Carlos Carrasco. The Atlanta Braves have pulled the old DFA trick on Carrasco once again. 

The inevitable Carlos Carrasco roster move. #Braves https://t.co/8WivkJt5ic pic.twitter.com/Is5XIZRAfM

— Aaron Schmidt (@AaronTSchmidt) June 24, 2026

Since last August, he's been DFA'd six times, but five of them have come this season, and all with Atlanta. The last four times, after he elected for free agency, the Braves re-signed the 39-year-old to a minor league deal. We've got a few days to see if that comes to fruition one more time. 

And it's not like Carrasco hasn't performed, either. 

This is the 6th time since August 2025 that the Braves DFA’d Carrasco, despite putting up solid stats.

Even if he’s the in the pen instead of Johnson, I think he’s worth a look before the deadline. https://t.co/uwKGBCGdWx pic.twitter.com/YjZlCGhiY2

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) June 24, 2026

He has a 3.68 ERA in 16 innings with the Braves this season, with a 1.16 WHIP. And he's put up good numbers in his many stints at Triple-A Gwinnett, as well, with a 3.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 30 innings. 

That said, the last time the 17-year veteran put up an ERA below 4.00 in the majors was back in 2022, with the NY Mets. Carrasco is no longer a starter, and that's fair, as he posted ERAs of 7.10, 5.64 and 6.80 in his last three seasons in a rotation. 

Overall, for his career, the Venezuelan right-hander has a 4.22 ERA. His best year was back in 2017 with Cleveland, when he went 18-6 with a 3.29 ERA and finished fourth in Cy Young balloting. 

For now, he'll bide his time, presumably, until the Braves come calling again. For the 6th time.