Former Cardinals’ ace Chris Carpenter has agreed to join the Angels. The 46-year-old former first round pick of the Blue Jays will “work with young pitchers on their mental skills and advancement toward the majors,” per Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Carpenter worked in the Cardinals front office as a special assistant for a number of years, but he was let go as a result of pandemic-driven belt-tightening. The Angels can certainly use all the help they can get, especially after spending their entire draft capital on pitchers. Besides, Carpenter knows a thing or two about the struggle to establish yourself in the Majors. Carpenter is one of the most notable late developers in recent history, making his first All-Star team at age 30 after moving from his original franchise to St. Louis, where he became a Cy Young winner and three-time All-Star. Elsewhere around the game…
- Despite his involvement in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal and the negative public sentiment that’s followed him since, expect Carlos Correa to cash in big this winter, writes The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. MLBTR agrees, having placed him atop the free agent rankings back in August. Indeed, Correa has been the face of the Astros post-scandal, and even that could be construed as a positive for his next club. His talent is unquestioned, and he has certainly proved that he can withstand just about any level of public criticism.
- Avisail Garcia and the Brewers share a $12MM mutual option for the 2022 season, and Garcia will be first to make a move. As a note of clarification, that’s how all mutual options work, writes The Athletic’s Will Sammon. Garcia put up a resurgent campaign, slashing .262/.330/.490 with 29 home runs in 515 plate appearances. Garcia was one of the Brewers’ most consistent power bats, and they have a lot of money committed to their outfield even without him. Still, with a 14-man arbitration class, the Brewers might consider declining their side of Garcia’s option even if he does opt-in.
Redsoxx_62
I was expecting the article to be about Matt Carpenter, so when it said “ace” I was confused lol
rhendricks
FYI, the wrong Chris Carpenter is linked.
The Mets "Missed WAR"
Yeah. It is isn’t it. This is supposed to be the Chris Carpenter that used to pitch with Roy Halladay in Toronto, right? I didn’t even know there was another Chris Carpenter.
SocraticGadfly
Well, this Carpenter will surely be out of the running, not just now, but as long as Mo runs the ship, to be Cardinals manager. socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2021/10/a-few-cardinal…
tstats
Similar careers tho 😉
KENNETH A LICHTIG
Can Chris Carpenter still pitch?
tstats
I read the first line as a deal for next year
MLB Top 100 Commenter
46 year old Chris Carpenter would have a better chance making Angel’s roster than Matt Carpenter.
Of course Avisail Garcia will decline mutual option and of course if he accepted it, Brewers would, too. I think he is worth a QO to Brewers. Brewers just need him for one year until Garrett Mitchell, Frelick or Perez are ready. Too inconsistent for multi year deal, better to pay him really well for just one year. And if he gets the QO, it is less likely that another team will want to offer him three years and 39 million.
The Mets "Missed WAR"
Do you guys ever think we have a Tom Brady of baseball that still performs at MVP caliber levels past the age of 45? I knew Brady would play to a later age than most players but I never thought he would still be THIS good at 45 years old.
em650r
Oil can Boyd can still hurl out 90 mph
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
I can hurl about 60 mph but I can cover a 4 ft. square area.
tstats
I can hit high 70 with a sexy curve?
thickiedon
Yes, his name is Nolan Ryan
Joe says...
Big Sexy!!!
dirkg
In addition to Nolan Ryan, Satchel Paige was 42 years old when he made his MLB debut (coming from the Negro Leagues). He helped the Indians win a World Series that year in 1948. Many say at 50 he was harder to hit than most 20 year olds.
And of course, Cal Ripken. Cal was Tom Brady before Tom Brady. 19 time all star and all star MVP in his last all star game (age 41). The Iron Man only had one championship(1983), but he literally lifted the sport on his back in the late 90s / early 2000s as fans were trying to navigate through steroid drama.
Cap & Crunch
Chan Ho park serving one up to Cal was pretty cool moment even if it was scripted
Def handed down from up top and probably a nice “envelope” came as a return for Parks services
aragon
park is manning ss these days in an independent league in korea for a tv show.
JerryBird
I saw Paige pitch for KC A’s back in 1965. I think he was 59 years old. The man had it for 3 innings. Awesome! Better than deGrom, baby! Paige should have won the Cy Young that year.
Ted
I want to say no, that MVP-calibre baseball requires too much reaction time for a 45 year old hitter and too much shoulder strength for a pitcher, but so does QB.
So, probably given enough time and medical advances. Better shoulder surgeries and advancements in stem cell therapies could certainly make it plausible for an elite relief pitcher to make it to 45.
SocraticGadfly
In the past? Satchel Paige might answer.
augold5
Perez would be lucky to get play in 2024, let alone be an option for 2023. Your other two players are possible contributors in 2023 though
dasit
i’d rather the yankees run velazquez out there than sign correa. watching the game last night, i had a sudden and unprecedented thought: “god help me i think i’m rooting for the red sox”
MurderersRow27
No to Correa on the Yankees… I’d rather deal with Gleyber back at SS.
MurderersRow27
On quick 2nd thought, I would rather the Yankees sign ANY of the other FA SS over Correa… passssssssssss
dasit
carpenter was nails. 2011 nlds game 5 is one of the greatest performances i’ve ever witnessed
Rsox
Should have hired Carpenter as pitching coach
OntariGro
The Angels have been dire at developing pitching in-house. They have 20 brand-new arms on the farm. Carpenter is far more valuable working with them than he would be as Pitching Coach, telling the whoever ends up the ’22 Angels Cahill/Harvey/Quintana-style 1-year wonders to “pitch better.”
Tim Stewart
Even more than 20 draftees. Add 5 of over 20 nd sighed were pitchers The Angels I think had some of the best draft strategies. I think this is another good move by the new GM.
SocraticGadfly
I can’t see Carpenter being an ass-kisser of Mo. That’s why Shildt got fired, after all. socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2021/10/a-few-cardinal…
jessaumodesto
Is it possible for Chris Carpenter to give us an inning or two in the post season? Penis this just purely a coaching move?
mlbnyyfan
I doubt highly that Houston would let Carlos leave. It’s probably the reason Houston didn’t keep Springer to save money for Correa
seth3120
Even though I realize it was autocorrect I have to assume you talk an awful lot about penis for autocorrect to turn is into penis
seth3120
“Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
Motown is My Town
Correa is going to be playing shortstop for the Detroit Tigers in 2022.
TroyVan
Doubtful, though possible. While they have a ton of money to work with and a hole at the SS position, it would not be prudent to sign a player to a nearly $400 million contract when they have a potentially better SS (Kriedler) on the cusp of MLB-readiness. A prudent move is a stop-gap SS on a 1-year deal to buy some time.
While this past season was encouraging, they are at least one more season away from serious contention (playoff-series winner).
tstats
Correa will man short for nearly 300 at MOST 325. Likewise there is no guarantee Kriedler sticks it in the majors
TroyVan
There’s no guarantee Greene makes it either. Or Tork, or Jobe. But, we’ll see. As was said in the chat a couple weeks ago, Kreidler makes for an interesting trade chip if they do sign him.
I just hate to see them commit that much money so early in their emergence phase, especially when they have someone that looks bound for a productive MLB career at SS.
DonOsbourne
Good luck to Chris Carpenter, one of my all time favorites. He has a big job ahead of him. I was really hoping he would resurface in St. Louis, but he definitely has too much personality to work with a d-bag like Mo.
tstats
Luis Garcia left the game, unsure if it is related to the injury but as he left he was clutching the right pant leg near the hip
Central Valley
Any chance Farhan Zaidi goes after Correa? I know Crawford was just resigned, but maybe he could move to 2B? Or Correa to 3b? Kris Bryant OF or 1B?
Ownership, especially after a 107 win season, will want Zaidi to go get a superstar. I’m just brainstorming…
OntariGro
A 107 win season would diminish the need to sign a superstar, no?
A foolish way to follow a 107 win season would be to sign a superstar SS when you already have a very good just re-signed SS, then moving one of them to a position they’ve never played, which would trigger more unnecessary positional musical chairs. Correa fills a need/solves a problem the Giants don’t have.
Weasel 2
Why would being a cheater cost Correa any money? MLB basically condoned that behavior by giving players immunity and letting the team keep the championship.
That gutless decision by the league is a permanent stain on the league itself.
iverbure
Stay mad. Hopefully they win again this year just for the lulz.
BasedBall
I like the move for the Angels.
Farhan and Kapler loaded up on coaches and it seemed to serve them well.
Coaching salaries don’t count against the luxury tax?
That would make it cost effective to add extra coaches like Carpenter.
prov356
This looks like a good move towards Angels player development.
jints1
Interesting in the negative reaction to Corea especially from Yankee fans. Corea is a winner and provides leadership qualities. The Yankees would be vastly improved with him at SS. Yes….they were stealing signs. Interesting that Cora has seemed to avoid a lot of the hostility.
whyhayzee
The yankees will get Stanley Clarke on bass when they sign Corea. Then they will return to forever.
Chicago_fan
Correa is a trash can boy. Not wanted on either of my city’s teams.
Valkyrie
When did they both appoint you to speak for them?
JoeBrady
I find Correa a little annoying. I know players track their own stats, but bragging to the press about his WAR was a bit over the top. Then pointing at his watch, to tell his teammates that it was HIS time, was odd, at a minimum. Why provide the RS with any more motivation than they already needed. Does anyone think this wasn’t mentioned in the RS clubhouse?
OntariGro
Unlike hits/runs/homeruns/etc., WAR doesn’t measure/count personal in-game accomplishments, it measures the value a player is providing to their team. A player being vocally proud of being exceptionally valuable to their team strikes me as a very good thing.
“Does anyone think this wasn’t mentioned in the RS clubhouse?”
‘Hey that very good player who just did a great thing in this playoff game used a gesture to express elation/fire up his team!’
“Oh so a totally regular thing, super-common among athletes performing in high-stakes situations?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Well shucks, I was planning on some real B- effort for the rest of this series but this innocuous thing has me motivated now.”
“What does that mean? Does that do anything?”
“No idea.”
“…okaaaay.”
carllafong
Excellent move by Angels to bring in a winner. Now if we can get a winner on the mound it will help even more.
Bob333
Useless move just gets some headlines