Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Thu 2/29/24 8:20 AM

Carpenter (wrist) is in the lineup for Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
EDGE Analysis
The veteran was hit by a pitch in his spring debut, but he escaped with only a contusion and is now ready to return after a few days off. While he made three All-Star appearances with the Cardinals earlier in his career, at this stage Carpenter is in the twilight of his playing days and hoping to stick around throughout the season as a bench bat.

Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Tue 2/27/24 10:38 AM

Carpenter (wrist) is hoping to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Thursday against the Nationals, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Carpenter was a late scratch ahead of Monday's game against the Marlins due to a left wrist contusion, which he suffered when he was hit by a pitch Saturday. He will require a few days of rest but is expected to be fine.

Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Mon 2/26/24 1:51 PM

Carpenter was scratched from the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins because of a left wrist contusion, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
EDGE Analysis
Carpenter was hit on the wrist by a pitch in a game over the weekend and is evidently still feeling the effects. The Cardinals are seemingly viewing Carpenter as day-to-day.

Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Fri 1/19/24 12:55 PM

Carpenter signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Friday.
EDGE Analysis
The 38-year-old slashed just .176/.322/.319 last season with the Padres before being traded to Atlanta over the offseason and then released. He's owed $5.5 million in 2024 but the Cardinals will be responsible only for the veteran minimum. Carpenter could conceivably see time time in the designated hitter spot in St. Louis, but it'll be difficult for the club to justify playing time for him over younger options.

Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Mon 12/18/23 11:33 AM

Carpenter was released by Atlanta on Monday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Atlanta had hoped to find a trade partner willing to take on at least some of the $4 million it owed Carpenter in 2024 (the Padres also owe him $1.5 million), but it wasn't to be. The 38-year-old slashed an ugly .176/.322/.319 during his lone season in San Diego and there's a distinct possibility we've seen the last of the three-time All-Star in the big leagues.

Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Fri 12/15/23 6:53 PM

Atlanta acquired Carpenter (elbow), Ray Kerr and cash considerations from the Padres on Friday in exchange for Drew Campbell.
EDGE Analysis
Carpenter, 38, posted a dreadful .176/.322/.319 batting line with five home runs over 76 games (237 plate appearances) for San Diego in 2023 and finished the year on the injured list because of right elbow inflammation. With no need at first base or designated hitter, Atlanta could quickly flip him to another team. He's owed $5.5 million in 2024 after exercising his final-year player option earlier this offseason, but the Padres will cover $1.5 million of that.

Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Fri 11/3/23 5:47 PM

Carpenter (elbow) exercised his $5.5 million player option for 2024 on Friday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
EDGE Analysis
Carpenter slashed .176/.322/.319 across 236 plate appearances with the Padres in 2023 and was unlikely to attract a large offer in the open market, so he'll opt into $5.5 million heading into his age-38 season. Carpenter battled injuries and saw his playing time decrease during the latter half of the season, and it's possible he remains in a reserve role to begin the 2024 campaign.

Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Fri 9/15/23 5:46 PM

The Padres placed Carpenter on the 10-day injured list Friday with right elbow inflammation.
EDGE Analysis
The move comes retroactive to Tuesday, so Carpenter will be eligible to return in a week. Carpenter has gone 2-for-10 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored since the start of September, and he will be replaced on the roster by Ji-Man Choi (ankle), who was reinstated from the injured list Friday.

Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Mon 9/11/23 6:12 PM

Carpenter has started four of the Padres' past seven games after logging just 14 plate appearances across all of August.
EDGE Analysis
Carpenter's increase in playing time has followed Jake Cronenworth (wrist) going on the injured list in late August. Three of Carpenter's past four starts have come at first base, and he's gone 2-for-10 with a home run, two RBI and a 4:5 BB:K during that stretch. The veteran is slashing a meager .176/.322/.319 on the campaign, but he may continue to see opportunities down the stretch, though it's unlikely he becomes an everyday starter.

Matt Carpenter
1B/DH STL
Mon 8/7/23 11:35 AM

Carpenter hasn't seen any game action for the Padres since July 24, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
EDGE Analysis
As Acee points out, Carpenter is the only player in the majors to have been on an active roster continuously since July 25 to have not appeared in a game during that time. The 37-year-old is batting just .166/.296/.302 on the season, and it may only be a matter of time that he loses his spot on the Padres roster. Carpenter is making $6.5 million in 2023 and holds a $5.5 million player option for 2024.