St. Louis Cardinals Sign Matt Carpenter

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed utility player Matt Carpenter to a one-year contract, worth $740,000. Carpenter, 38, hit .176 with 18 runs, 33 hits, 12 doubles, 5 home runs, 31 RBI's, 1 stolen base, and 41 walks with the San Diego Padres in 2023.

Carpenter has been an All-Star 3 times: (2013, 2014, and 2016). Carpenter also won a Silver Slugger Award in 2013. 

Carpenter had his best season in 2013, with the Cardinals. That season, Carpenter hit .318 with 126 runs, 199 hits, 55 doubles, 7 triples, 11 home runs, 78 RBI's, and 72 walks. The batting average, runs, hit, doubles, and triples were all career highs for Carpenter. The runs, hits, and doubles also led the MLB.

In 2015, Carpenter had a career high 84 RBI's. Carpenter had a career high 109 walks in 2017. In 2018, Carpenter had a career high 36 home runs. Carpenter had a career high 6 stolen bases in 2019. 

Overall, Carpenter had played 13 seasons in the MLB. Carpenter has played 1,452 games with 798 runs, 1,225 hits, 322 doubles, 28 triples, 175 home runs, 644 RBI's, 28 stolen bases, 759 walks, and a .260 batting average. 

Carpenter returning to the Cardinals is a low risk move. The Cardinals know there was a leadership problem last season, and they seem to be trying to fix that problem. Nolan Arenado even complained about the team not having enough player leadership in 2023. 

The way to fix that problem is by getting players who you know can be leaders. Which on paper is something the Cardinals have done this offseason. I think it's also only stop gaps until younger players improve and emerge as leaders. One of those younger players is emerging as a leader is Brendan Donovan. 

I think the Cardinals will add more pitching before they go to spring training. The last two remaining active players from the Cardinals' 2011 World Series team are Matt Carpenter and starting pitcher Lance Lynn.