If Your Birthday is March 21st...

...you share it with Carlos Carrasco.  The longtime Cleveland righthander -- who spent the past three seasons with the Mets -- appears on the verge of making the Yankees rotation.  The well-liked Venezuela native, who overcame cancer and resumed his career a few years ago -- has been effective in Grapefruit League action and could soon add his name to the more than 160 who've suited up for both New York ballclubs.

(Below:) Frankie Montas is also on the verge of reaching that status.  Unlike Carrasco, who had a strong 15-7 season with the '22 Mets, Montas' tenure in the Bronx was an injury riddled failure — he appeared in just nine games in a a year and a half.  Montas helped rebuild his reputation splitting last summer between the Reds and Brewers -- but health is again an issue.  He'll miss opening day (and all of April) after yet another injury,  This time, it's a lat strain.


Also born on this date, a longtime big league star and an "almost" Yankee:

Brooklyn born Tommy Davis signed with the Dodgers out of high school -- but didn't make his big league debut until after the club moved to LA.  The two-time National League batting champ and 1963 MVP was traded to the Mets in 1967 -- then bounced around to several clubs.  He was in spring training camp with the 1976 Yankees, and appeared in a few exhibition games -- but was cut before opening day.  Davis did play for the Angels and Royals in '76, but since the pre-season doesn't count statistically, he can't qualify as one who played for both New York teams.  Tommy passed away in 2022.

The only member of this March 21st birthday circle without New York connections makes this space because, judging by WAR, he was the most productive player born on this date.  Catcher Manny Sanguillen played 12 of his 13 seasons with the Pirates, highlighted by World Championship rings in 1971 and '79.  A protege and close friend of Roberto Clemente, the Panama native hit a career .296 and made three All Star teams.  I met him in 2016, when he was signing autographs before a Pirates game at PNC Park.
Here's the story behind the rest of today's images:  Carlos Carrasco was on a rehab start with the Mets Binghamton farm club when I snapped him in 2023; Frankie Montas pitched against the Yankees last July 4th in the Bronx; and Tommy Davis appeared at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Dodgers LA arrival in March 2008.

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