Matt Carpenter lands six-year extension with Cardinals

The Cardinals have signed third-baseman Matt Carpenter to a six-year extension. Carpenter's new deal is worth $52 million and includes an option for the 2020 season. The option is for the 2020 season is worth $18.5 million.The deal buys out the first two years of free agency for Carpenter, and gets rid of all three of his arbitration years. Carpenter, 28, has played three seasons in the MLB. He's improved himself as a player since being draft by the Cardinals in the 2009 MLB draft.

Last season, Carpenter had a break out year for himself. He played in 157 games and hit .318 in 2013, with 126 runs scored, 199 hits, 55 doubles, 7 triples, 11 home runs, and 78 rbi's. The 55 doubles broke a record for a left-handed batter in franchise history that was held by Stan Musial. The record had been 53 doubles by Musial in the 1953 season. Carpenter ended up an All-Star for the first time in 2013, and won a Silver Slugger Award (which goes to the best offensive players at each position in both the American League and National League). It marked the first time in Cardinals history that a second baseman won a Silver Slugger Award. He also finished fourth in NL MVP voting.

So far in Carpenter's thee year career his stats are: 278 games played, .937 at bats, 306 batting average, 170 runs, 287 hits, 78 doubles, 12 triples, 17 home runs, 124 rbi's, and 4 stolen bases.

The deal for Carpenter looks like it could end up being a bargain for the Cardinals. A lot of that depends if Carpenter can improve from 2013 or put up almost same numbers that he did. I think he will be able to improve those stats from 2013. Good move by the Cardinals. I wouldn't be shocked if next in line for an extension is either Shelby Miller, Micheal Wacha, or Trevor Rosenthal.