Matt Carpenter Open To Playing In 2025
Matt Carpenter is winding down his 14th big league season but isn't necessarily going to stop there. He tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he's willing to return next year, even if it's in the part-time role he's had in 2024.
"Iâ€TMm certainly open to play," Carpenter said. "I like this role. I think considering the role, I feel like Iâ€TMve done well in it, and I also think, more importantly, I understand the bigger picture of it. Iâ€TMd be open to doing it again."
Carpenter signed a one-year deal with the Cards for 2024, his age-38 season. He began the winter under contract to the Padres, triggering a $5.5MM player option. San Diego traded him to Atlanta alongside Ray Kerr and some cash considerations for minor league outfielder Drew Campbell , but mostly to get rid of some money. Atlanta took on a chunk of that salary to get Kerr in that deal, quickly releasing Carpenter, which allowed the Cards to sign him for the league minimum.
Around a couple of injured list stints, one for a right oblique strain and the other for a lower back strain, Carpenter has stepped to the plate 146 times in 54 appearances this year. He has struck out 31.5% of the time and drawn walks at a 9.6% clip. That walk rate is above league average but both of those rates are career worsts for Carpenter personally. He has hit four home runs and his .236/.317/.378 batting line leads to a 97 wRC+, indicating he has been just a bit below league average overall.
Most of that has come as a designated hitter or pinch hitter. His defensive contributions for the year have consisted of eight innings at first base, one at second base and three at third. Both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference grade his season just barely below replacement level.
Strictly looking at the on-field performance, there may not be a ton of interest there. He was a strong player for the Cardinals from 2012 to 2018 but hasn't been above average at the plate for a lengthy stretch since then. After worsening struggles from 2019 to 2021, he tried revamping his swing and re-emerged with a vengeance in 2022. He put up a monster line of .305/.412/.727 with the Yankees that year, though in only 47 games. He didn't get his shot until a couple of months into the season and then had his comeback shortened by injury. The Padres believed in the bounceback enough to give him a two-year deal, including the aforementioned player option, but the first year didn't go well and they sent him packing after that.
Carpenter can perhaps bring other elements to the table in a less tangible fashion, serving as a mentor and clubhouse leader. But given his numbers, he may be limited to minor league offers or perhaps a veteran sage role on a rebuilding club.
"Going to cross that bridge when we get there," Carpenter said to Goold of his offseason market. "Iâ€TMm open to playing. Weâ€TMll see what that looks like. Iâ€TMm open to doing this role again. Iâ€TMm open to just a lot of things. Weâ€TMll see."
