About two weeks away from a MLB trade deadline that could determine the future of the Philadelphia Phillies franchise, the organization would do well by learning from its many past mistakes. Carlos Carrasco of the Cleveland Indians is one particular case study the organization’s brain trust should revisit.

The Phillies gave up on Carrasco in 2009, and he was part of the trade that sent Cliff Lee to the Phillies. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2011 and sat out the 2012 season. Now, Carrasco is a solid MLB starter with a 10-7 record and a respectable 4.07 ERA in the hitting-friendly AL. His 122 strikeouts in 108.1 innings shows he still has a powerful arm despite the surgery, and he probably was someone the Phillies should have kept.

Now that the Phillies have established a deep group of arms — primarily stocked at the Double-A level — the Carrasco trade is a powerful reminder that they should not give up on any them. While they have had trouble trading a lot of their older assets, like closer Jonathan Papelbon, now recent reports are that the Phillies are listening to offers for some of their younger pitchers, like Papelbon’s heir apparent, Ken Giles.

They should stop listening now.

In April, Carrasco signed a four-year, $22 million contract with Cleveland and, while that is expensive, both Lee and Cole Hamels are drawing in excess of $20 million per season. The Phillies can have a better handle on their fiscal future by keeping all of these younger pitchers. Carrasco’s breakout season came last year, going 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA in 40 games. He finished with 140 strikeouts and 29 walks in 134 innings. He went 5-3 with a 1.30 ERA in his final 10 starts and was among the AL’s most dominant pitchers.

At 29, Carrasco has come into his own, and the fact that this could have happened in the Phillies’ favor should be a reminder when other clubs start to ask about their younger starters now.

Mike Gibson is a MLB Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @papreps , “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.