GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Guardians (facetiously) "wanted nothing to do" with Carlos Carrasco, but the veteran pitcher and former Cleveland regular in the rotation simply "insisted" that he be signed and return to his former stomping grounds.

At least, that's the story that Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti jokingly told through a wide grin at the team's spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz.

In reality, it sounds as though it took the Guardians about 10 seconds to decide to sign Carrasco to a minor league deal that includes a non-roster invitation to big league camp. In addition to bolstering the team's potential pitching depth this spring, either as a starter or a reliever, Carrasco is simply someone the team jumped at the chance to have around the clubhouse again.

"It's awesome," Antonetti said, no longer joking. "Kind of almost in tears in the meeting, and hearing him even just reflect back on his journey, and he talked about different people along his path that have impacted him and how happy he is to be [back]. We share that excitement. We love Carlos."

Carrasco was a mainstay in Cleveland's rotation for 11 years before being involved in the blockbuster Francisco Lindor trade with the New York Mets prior to the 2021 season. His best season came in 2017, when he went 18-6 with a 3.29 ERA and 226 strikeouts in 200 innings en route to a fourth-place finish in American League Cy Young voting. He also twice signed long-term extensions with Cleveland that were viewed as very team friendly.

Now 36, and only four years removed from a leukemia diagnosis, he has returned to Cleveland's spring training facility in Arizona with a chance to nab a spot on the Guardians' Opening Day roster.

"It was really simple. I just wanted to come back here," Carrasco said. "I spent 11 years here. It was really smooth. I'm glad I'm here."

Cleveland is where he received his first shot in the big leagues. And Cleveland is where he'll try to revamp his career after a few down, injury-riddled seasons with the Mets in which he posted a combined 5.21 ERA.

"They gave me the opportunity to play in the big league and that was where everything started," Carrasco said. "I was so anxious to come back here and that they gave me an opportunity."

While much of the front office is the same, Carrasco joked that he only knows three or four players still in the clubhouse, as the Guardians roster has undergone a youth movement since he's been gone.

Carlos Carrasco could be competition for a bullpen role on Guardians 2024 Opening Day roster

He'll have a few different paths to the Guardians Opening Day roster, but one of them is blocked. He could potentially pitch his way into the starting rotation, but barring an injury or a trade, that quintet is set. He could possibly factor into the team's plans in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever. It's something he's done before.

The plan with Carrasco and a few others vying for spots will be to stretch him out as a starting pitcher, just in case, and later in camp, see where the chips are falling when it comes to going to the rotation or the bullpen. As a non-roster invitee, if Carrasco doesn't make the Guardians' Opening Day roster at all, he'll have the option of signing elsewhere or accepting an assignment to Triple-A, where he'd keep working on the road back to the majors.

"Our plan is to kind of stretch them out at a good pace, kind of have that build up and then as they're getting built up, we'll have some clear answers on what we're looking for from them," said new manager Stephen Vogt.

Antonetti, again with a smile, added, "I'm looking forward to the day when we have too many healthy pitchers that we have to find spots for. It's a good problem to have if we get to that point."

Carlos Carrasco worked with Driveline and Shane Bieber prior to spring training

Carrasco hopes that a productive offseason can win him a spot on the roster. He worked with Driveline a data-driven performance baseball performance and training organization, alongside Shane Bieber for a few weeks in Scottsdale, Ariz.

While just about everyone who knows him has been thrilled to see him back in camp, he'll still earn his spot on the roster.

"It was really good and I learned a lot on my pitches," Carrasco said of his Driveline experience. "My slider is way better than it used to be. Two-seamer is really good. I really give a lot of credit to Driveline."

He even said he surprised himself by throwing 90, 91, even 92 mph in the bullpen so early in spring training. Last year, around this time, he was sitting around 86 to 88 mph.

"I think it gave me a little bit extra right there," Carrasco said. "I don't know if I can get to 93, 94, 95, I don't know. But it feels good."

Many around the city are glad to have "Cookie" back. Carrasco noted that he's heard from all kinds of people, even people at restaurants. Pitching coach Carl Willis is in that group, too.

"It's great. He puts a smile on your face every evening," Willis said. "He puts a smile on his teammates' faces. He just connects with people and I feel like, and I told him, this is home for him, and him coming back at this stage of his career, I think we all feel that Cleveland is the best place for him to get everything out of himself."

Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians to see if Carlos Carrasco can make 2024 roster