Carl Edwards Jr.'s career trajectory is an intriguing tale of adaptability and resilience in the world of baseball. Despite a tumultuous journey, his recent shift to starting pitcher could be a game-changer. But will it pay off?
Edwards' story began with a minor league deal, where he was envisioned as a specific type of player by the Cubs' David Stearns. His pitching style, characterized by a three-pitch repertoire, a four-seamer, and a curveball, has proven effective, yielding soft contact and ground balls. The key to his success lies in his arm angle and extension, generating significant spin on his fastball.
His professional career took off when he was drafted by the Rangers in 2011 and traded to the Cubs in 2013. Edwards made his MLB debut as a reliever in 2015, becoming a pivotal part of the Cubs' World Series run. However, his journeyman career took a turn when he was traded to the Padres in 2019, where a two-game stint resulted in a disastrous six earned runs in an inning and two-thirds. This led to a brief stint with the Seattle Mariners before the 2020 season, but he only appeared in five games due to the COVID-shortened season.
The following years were a blur of trades and minor league appearances, bouncing around the Atlanta, Toronto, and Chicago White Sox organizations. In 2022, Edwards found some success with the Nationals, appearing in 57 games with a 3.19 ERA, which led to a $2.25 million contract with Washington for 2023. However, shoulder injuries limited his appearances to just 32.
The narrative takes an interesting turn in 2024 and 2025, where Edwards has been starting more than relieving. He has started nine games for the El Paso Chihuahuas in the Padres system, eight for the Angels and Rangers, and 14 for the Tigres de Quintana Roo in the Mexican League. While his ERA is in the high fours, this may have caught the attention of the New York Mets.
The Mets' interest in Edwards could be attributed to their plans to stretch him out into a starter, envisioning him as a swingman who could provide bulk innings out of the bullpen and occasional spot starts. However, the arrival of Tobias Myers from the Brewers in the Freddy Peralta trade might have shifted the dynamics. Myers, a more established pitcher, seems likely to take on that role for the 2026 team, leaving Edwards' future uncertain.
The life of a journeyman pitcher is filled with uncertainty, and teams often make such signings with the knowledge that they might not pan out. Edwards' potential success in the spring could open doors, but it's a challenging path. Perhaps it's time to embrace his nickname, 'the String Bean Slinger,' and celebrate his adaptability on the mound.
