Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter is in the midst of the worst season of his career at the plate and will turn 36 in November, but the three-time All-Star made clear this week that he’s hoping for a chance to right the ship in 2022. The Cardinals are a lock to buy out his $18.5MM club option, but Carpenter tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he’s not currently thinking about calling it quits. “I don’t know what the future holds for me as far as what [the Cardinals’] plans are, what the plans for me are,” says Carpenter. “I definitely want to play.”
The question then becomes one of whether Carpenter will be able return to the Cards at a (much) lower price or find an opportunity with another club. Carpenter has just 63 plate appearances since the All-Star break, and 33 of those have come as a pinch-hitter. He’s hitless since Aug. 7 — a span of 35 plate appearances — with five walks and 13 strikeouts mixed in along the way. His season batting line checks in at .169/.304/.275, and his 32.6 percent strikeout rate is a career-high.
The downturn at the plate has been pronounced but also isn’t entirely out of the blue. Rather, Carpenter has been in a steady decline since a 36-homer campaign in 2018 that netted him some stray MVP votes down the ballot and a ninth-place finish overall. He followed that with a down year in 2019 but was at least roughly average at the plate. He then hit .186/.325/.314 with 28.4 percent strikeout rate in 169 trips to the plate last season.
Over the past two seasons, Carpenter has batted just .176/.313/.292 in 396 plate appearances. His role with the Cardinals has diminished both due to his struggles and due to the presence of Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Tommy Edman around the St. Louis infield. All three players will be back with St. Louis in 2022, and even a bench role might not be much of a consideration for the Cards. Edmundo Sosa has outplayed Carpenter across the board and offers more versatility in the infield. Carpenter hasn’t logged a single inning in the outfield since 2014. If a universal designated hitter is implemented, there’ll surely be calls — at least from fans — for an Albert Pujols farewell tour at that position.
It’s not out of the question that Carpenter could find another role with a new organization, however, particularly if the National League designated hitter does come into play. His 13.7 percent walk rate remains outstanding — tied for 20th-best among the 330 big league hitters with at least 200 plate appearances. Carpenter is still hitting the ball hard, too. Of the 386 hitters with at least 100 batted ball events in 2021, Carpenter is tied for 71st in average exit velocity, ranks 59th in barrel rate and sits 135th in hard-hit rate (i.e. batted balls at 95 mph or higher). It’s not a dominant profile, but it’s one that certainly looks like it should produce more than a .169 batting average and .275 slugging percentage.
Of course, Carpenter is done in both by the infrequency of his contact and by the pull-happy nature of the balls he does put into play. He’s highly susceptible to the shift, which makes his nearly 77 percent pull rate on grounders immensely problematic. Carpenter has tried to counteract that by focusing on elevating the ball, but he isn’t pulling the ball in the air like he did during his big 2018 season. In terms of exit velocity, launch angle and hard-hit percentage, Carpenter’s 2018 and 2021 seasons are strikingly similar. However, just 16 percent of Carpenter’s fly-balls have been pulled this season — down from 29 percent in 2018. Nearly 54 percent of Carpenter’s flies are going up the middle, which at least partially explains the drop from a 19.1 percent homer-to-flyball rate in 2018 to this year’s 5.4 percent mark.
Other teams will surely draw their own theories about Carpenter’s decline and drum up some plans of attack to remedy the problems. He’s unlikely to rediscover his 2018 form thanks to the huge uptick in strikeouts, but Carpenter’s walk rate, hard-contact profile and overall track record could still seemingly generate some interest elsewhere around the league.
That’s particularly possible if, as Carpenter himself puts it to Goold, he’s willing to “do whatever I have to do to continue playing.” It’s possible that with his recent struggles, Carpenter won’t find much in the way of guaranteed big league offers. But, if he’s willing to head to Spring Training on a minor league pact, a team seeking some corner infield depth and/or a veteran left-handed bench bat might be willing to take a speculative look.
Kayrall
I, too, want to play in 2021.
tominco
Me too. Got a place for a 59 year old rookie catcher with a bum knee?
When it was a game.
Do they still do open tryouts?
Deadguy
Matt Carpenter has reinvented the mendoza line this season. God bless him
JerryBird
Sad story, but he has simply lost it. Good guy off the field. Don’t really want to see him back in 2022. I mean, who wants a 176 hitter at DH? It’s bad enough they have used him as a pinch-hitter. Thanks for the good days of the past, Matt.
Baseball 1600
I’ve seen crazier turnarounds. In 2018 I thought Hunter Pence had completely lost it, he couldn’t make contact, had almost no power, and didn’t draw walks. Then he proved me wrong in 2019 by having a monster season with the Rangers. You just never know.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Carpenter looked so promising at the start of his career, but that candle has unfortunately burned out. Maybe gets an invite to spring training..
Rsox
Monster half season
revolver
Such an unorthodox player. Was one of the toughest outs in the game for a couple years.
keysox
He should probably be realistic.
JC coach somewhere.
Bart Harley Jarvis
Junior College coach somewhere?
Jmrinaz
A bench IF/DH role with the Texas Rangers closer to his home in TX could be more his aim.
drstevenhorn
Every time I see Carpenter’s name I think about the at bats he put together against Kershaw in game six of the 2013 NLCS, and game one of the 2014 NLDS. He singlehandedly started the “Kershaw can’t pitch in the postseason” myth.
drstevenhorn
I should add that he ruined my childhood with those at bats. Oh wait that was my mid-40s.
bleedingblue1996
Man that was my first playoff game. What a guy, sad to see his steep decline. I guess once he lost his incredible plate vision that was it.
For Love of the Game
We’ll have some slots on my men’s softball team next season…that’s about all Carpenter is going to see.
DarkSide830
how
jdgoat
Could’ve told me he retired 4 years ago and I would have believed you. What a steep decline he went on.
charle24
So dumb. He had the 2nd best year of his career just 3 years ago.
BeforeMcCourt
It was 4 years ago…
He’s been bad to horrible the last 3. Thats a LONG time to suck and still get a job, when your calling card was your bat
Lanidrac
2018 was 3 years ago. It’s just that he’s played nearly 3 full* seasons of lousy ball since then.
*As full as we had in 2020, anyway.
stevewpants
Chris Carpenter has a better shot than Matt does to make the Cards next year.
Thomas Walker
“We’re all told we can longer play the kids game. Some of us are told at 18, some of us are told at 40, but we’re all told.” – Some guy in some movie
Inside Out
I know hard to give up when you used to be good, but he needs to step back and realize he just can’t play anymore and be happy with all the money and memories he made.
larry48
Who would want Carpenter in 2022?
Ham Fighter
KBO
jorge78
Sounds like he is done. Father Time wins again…..
steed2
Matt was done 3 years ago . He has batted 204 since then and he has gotten worse this year . Hasn’t had a hit in over a month in limited at bats . Loved him but when you are done … ITS OVER BRO
frontdeskmike
Thanks for the memories, Matt. I hope you get one more shot. I can see a team in the Atlantic League or the KBO taking a flyer.
Peart of the game
NPB is also a potential landing spot, CPBL wouldn’t pay him enough and he’s probably going to want more than at most the $1 million he can get from a KBO team.
Lloyd Emerson
Might be time to concentrate on his culinary empire consisting of cereal and salsa…
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
I understand he is a real cereal killer & his salsa is to die for
sdbaseballguy
Spring trading invite and them he’ll either perform or be released. Pretty simple.
ShootyBabbit
This is the answer
Thomas Walker
Let’s be honest, sentimentality aside, look at his slash line from the last 2 years. Abysmal is being friendly. .292 Slugging Pct. in his last 400 ABs?? That’s bad. Not that your slash tells the whole story, but when it looks like his does, it’s time to move on. There is really no reason to bring him back anyway. A third awful year in a row?? Let him get some ABs the last week of the season, let him tip his cap during the last home game, and then pay the buyout and move on.
sdbaseballguy
Test
MikeyHammer
” I would like to continue receiving enormous paychecks, although my ability to make those look fiscally responsible has disappeared “.
Disjointed Team
Long, slow swing getting blown out by high heat. He’s going to be one of those guys bouncing around from team to team as his career ends. Can’t run and can’t play defense. He’s extremely limited.
BeforeMcCourt
He also can’t hit..
Limited indeed. Those 3 are just the basic skills of baseball. No biggie
Disjointed Team
He can’t hit waa already implied.
Domingo111
I don’t think there is much left. Still walks at an elite rate but even if he got a little unlucky in the power department he probably is at best a 10 Homer guy at this point plus he lost a lot of contact ability, fielding ability and running ability, he seems to be just done physically (62nd out of 64 guys listed at 2b in sprint speed).
So who needs a slow, bad fielding 2b/3b who hits 230 with 10 homers (probably the high side for his projection) even if it comes with an elite walk rate?
BeforeMcCourt
Lol. The only time he is a good hitter is when he doesn’t try to hit. Love it
Dude stayed for the paychecks. He’s crazy to think he’s got anything left
UWPSUPERFAN77
Does not hit enough for a DH position! Good luck in your entrance into the Hall of Good! Ryan Braun = Hall of very good!
Carpenter29
I definitely don’t want it to be in a Cardinals uniform….
letsholdemandgohome
I don’t care if he bats .500 in spring training on a minor league deal, it won’t last. He never ever should have been extended on the contract he has now. That was all Mo on that idiotic contract that tied up money for him when they could have signed someone who is a whole lot more productive then he was and ever will be.
Lanidrac
Yes, that extension was terrible in hindsight, but it was signed coming off the best year of his career. I did think they jumped the gun extending him almost a year before he was due to hit free agency, but nobody could have seen such a quick and drastic decline coming at that point.
swinging wood
Better start putting ‘roids in the salsa, then.
CardinalsFan79
Oh no, the Cards are going to sign him aren’t they. And this will be one of the “big” offseason moves. Yadi, Wainwright, and Carp. Offseason DONE. Good Lord.
Lanidrac
If they do, it will only be a Minor League deal, and the Cardinals are certainly going to sign some pitchers in free agency this offseason beyond just (potentially) Wainwright. For one thing, I believe all of their mid-season pitching additions will be free agents, as will Andrew Miller, Kim, Martinez, and of course Wainwright. Thankfully, they have a lot of money coming off the books (including Carpenter’s contract) and increased revenue compared to last year with which to address their pitching.
tbone0816
He better not be playing with the Cardinals
619bird
Well good luck to him in 2022 in indy ball or Japan/Korea.
I would cue the Sugar Land Skeeters like in years past but Manfred took that from us as well. lol
AshamedMethGoat
The game will tell him if he’s playing next season. My guess is, he gets offered several minor league deals, with the question being as to whether or not he would accept that.
Disjointed Team
Hit for average early in his career, then suddenly he wanted to become a HR hitter. Some guys can’t sustain the power with their swing. Belllinger is another guy that needs to figure this out. Big, long swing. Not sustainable. Dejong needs to re-evaluate his hitting concept too if he wants to stay in the league.
solaris602
Right on the money about Bellinger. If he doesn’t come up with a plan other than swinging as hard as he can every time, he’s gonna become a memory in a hurry.
BeforeMcCourt
Hahahaha. Your obsession with telling us Bellinger’s career is ruined is hilarious.
HR total per year: 39-25-47-12(extrapolates to about 35)-9
In his 506 games, just over 3 seasons worth, he hit 123 home runs. That’s just below 41 per 162.
There’s zero reason to think Bellinger cannot regain his power. Other than wishful thinking from Giant and Padre fans
Disjointed Team
McCourt, if you’re talking to me, I didn’t obsess about Bellinger. I stated his swing won’t hold up as is. You want more RECENT FACTS? In his last 512 at bats, he has 21 HR. 128Ks. BA of .191. By the way, I’m neither a Padres or SF fan.
Daryl Pauley
Makes me cringe to think he might be a Cardinal in 2022.
tbone0816
I’m highly doubting the Cardinals sign him!!
solaris602
Somebody will give Carp a spring invite, but it shouldn’t be STL. Time for both parties to move on.
archboy
I’d like to have hair next year but it’s not gonna happen.
Jose Tattoo-vay
I saw him in a Spring Training game in 2011 and thought he was the best hitter on the field that day going 3 for 3. He had a heck of a good run, but all good things come to an end. His career numbers with the bases loaded are still eye popping. Best of luck to him.
GhostOfNappa
i think age has just beaten him. dude got blown away with 3 straight 92mph fastballs in the middle of the zone last night
stan lee the manly
If he will take a minor league deal, then do it, he’s a Cardinals lifer and has given his all for the org. And who knows, maybe he needs a reset and can recover.
Otherwise, thanks but no thanks. Teams are pumping fastballs right down the middle and he’s nowhere near hitting them. It’s as safe a bet as ever to say his productive days are firmly behind him. Loved having him in St. Louis and loved watching him play, but that time is gone.
louman49
I hope he stays in the Cards minor league somewhere and be a great coach.
rememberthecoop
He will be lucky to get a non-roster invite to spring training. He is really awful now.
waterdog311
Sign him to a minor league deal and let him be a player manager…for Palm Beach (A ball).
Rsox
Cardinals will pay his buyout and he will sign a minor league deal somewhere.
It will be interesting to see who signs first; Carpenter or Pablo Sandoval
Tdat1979
Mexico, Korea, or Japan – those are his options.
BeforeMcCourt
It’s nice to want things
PipptyPoppitygivemetheZoppity
He will end up on the Texas Rangers.
Rsox
Rangers should keep the Brockstar
PipptyPoppitygivemetheZoppity
Red sox should sign Brock for ticket sales.
imissjoebuzas
Matt Carpenter can play if he wants to be a player/coach with the Memphis RedBirds, but his MLB says are over. As Stan Lee proposed, he can remain a Cardinal for Life. Except he won’t be around to embarrass himself in the big leagues anymore. And this is. It just a “this year” comment either. His skills have been slipping year over year since after 2018.
imissjoebuzas
And he has made $87 M in his big league career already. Time to enjoy your retirement or a new career in uniform on the bench or coaching lines somewhere.
Lanidrac
He’ll probably get some calls, but he’s going to have to prove himself on a Minor League contract. No way is anyone giving out a Major League deal at his age when it’s highly questionable if he even deserves to be a bench player anymore.
deleted account
Would love to him resurrect his career in the KBO
jim stem
He’ll certainly play next year. I’m sure their is a slow pitch softball team that could use him somewhere.
BobGibsonFan
He should have thought about that the last 3 years.
He probably really means “I definitely want lots of money in 2022”
I like money.
Jack Buckley
Shocking to see how bad he is, I heard how bad he was from a Cardinals fan but please just retire
Jmrinaz
Carpenter got the flu in July of 2019, he came back poorly and the next year was COVID. Now he’s 36 and it’s just too steep of a climb. Baseball is a cold, cruel mistress.
CardsNation5
Sorry, but the Cardinals aren’t bringing Carpenter back. If he wants to continue playing it definitely won’t be with STL. This is coming from a lifelong Cardinals that still stay in the STL. It’s not going to happen. Believe that!
Bart Harley Jarvis
Matt Carpenter, “I definitely want to get paid in 2022.”
Buster79
Maybe he can pitch.