Mets manager Terry Collins expects D.J. Carrasco to be the team's seventh inning specialist.

Playing for his fourth team since 2009, the underrated Carrasco should put up sub-4.00 ERA numbers in middle relief this year, just as he has each of the past three seasons. He also is capable of pitching long relief when needed, making the versatile veteran a handy addition to the Mets bullpen.

A Mets official said Thursday that D.J. Carrasco is being considered for the final spot in the Mets' starting rotation.

If he doesn't end up earning it, Carrasco will at least be available for emergency starting duties. The 33-year-old inked a two-year, $2.5 million contract with New York earlier this month after registering a strong 3.68 ERA and 1.30 WHIP across 78 1/3 relief innings in 2010. The Mets' current rotation includes Mike Pelfrey, R.A. Dickey, Jonathon Niese and maybe Dillon Gee.

Mets signed RHP D.J. Carrasco to a two-year, $2.5 million contract.

Carrasco, 33, was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks last week after posting a 3.68 ERA and 65/34 K/BB ratio this past season. He has managed to finish with an ERA under 4.00 in each of the last three seasons and does a good job of keeping the ball on the ground, so he should at least justify his contract.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reports that the Mets have agreed on a two-year deal with D.J. Carrasco.

Carrasco, 33, posted a respectable 3.68 ERA and 65/34 K/BB ratio in 2010 for the Pirates and Diamondbacks. He is your run-of-the-mill middle reliever, so we're mildly surprised he received a guaranteed two-year contract. As long as the financial terms are reasonable and New York isn't expecting much, Carraso should settle in fine as a middle reliever.

Adam Rubin of ESPN New York reports that the Mets are having "fruitful conversations" with free agent reliever D.J. Carrasco.

Carrasco, 33, posted a respectable 3.68 ERA and 65/34 K/BB ratio in 2010 for the Pirates and Diamondbacks. He was non-tendered by Arizona in early November but is a cheap and reliable middle reliever.

According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, the Mets are among 6-8 teams interested in D.J. Carrasco.

Carrasco, who turns 34 in April, was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks last week. He posted a 3.68 ERA and 65/34 K/BB ratio over 78 1/3 innings this past season. He's likely to figure in middle relief, wherever he lands.

Diamondbacks non-tendered RHP D.J. Carrasco.

Probably the toughest call for the D-Backs. Carrasco compiled a 3.68 ERA and 65/34 K/BB ratio over 78 1/3 innings between the Pirates and Diamondbacks this past season. Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers knows how to build a bullpen, so he ultimately decided that Carrasco wasn't worth bringing back at the $1 million-plus he would have made through the arbitration process.

D.J. Carrasco, who was traded from the Pirates to the Diamondbacks on July 31, said his former team didn't take losing seriously enough.

"You would think there's a lot of negative energy from losing all the time," said Carrasco. "But, in my opinion, when I was there, the guys don't take it seriously enough that they're losing all the time. That's something that needs to be worked on internally from the players themselves, to have a pride issue of getting beat up every day. It didn't seem like that. I'm sure the staff cares big-time, but it didn't seem the players cared as much as the staff." Friday night will be the first meeting between the Pirates and Diamondbacks since the trade. Expect fireworks or something.

Diamondbacks acquired RHP D.J. Carrasco, infielder Bobby Crosby, outfielder Ryan Church from the Pirates for catcher Chris Snyder and shortstop Pedro Ciriaco.

Carrasco met with Pirates general manager Neal Huntington last week to express his willingness in being traded to a contender, so he probably won't love this news. The 33-year-old right-hander posted a 3.88 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 55 2/3 innings and is under team control for two more years. He's entering a mess of a bullpen, so keep an eye on him as a dark horse for saves.

According to Dejan Kovacevic of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, D.J. Carrasco met with Pirates general manager Neal Huntington last week to express his willingness in being traded to a contender.

"It's just something that I'm open to, playing for a contender," Carrasco said Wednesday. According to Kovacevic, Carrasco neither demanded a trade in the meeting nor said he would prefer one. The 33-year-old right-hander has a 3.88 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 45 appearances with the Pirates this season. Just a little under two weeks ago, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported that "at least five teams" had contacted the Bucs about the availability of Carrasco.

Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that "at least five teams" have inquired with the Pirates about the availability of right-hander D.J. Carrasco.

Carrasco was non-tendered by the White Sox over the winter, but has a posted a 4.14 ERA and a 39/21 K/BB ratio in 50 innings with the Pirates this season. He's not a sexy name, but could come cheaper than some of the other relievers on the market.

D.J. Carrasco is experiencing some hamstring tightness and is, right now, considered "day-to-day."

Carrasco hopes to be available within the early part of this week. He's rattled off a 3.94 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 29 2/3 innings of relief this season.