Chris Carpenter Signs 2 Year Contract Extension

Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed on a 2 year $21 million contract extension.  The deal will keep Carpenter in St. Louis through the 2013 season.

Carpenter entered the season in the final year of the 5 year $63.5 million deal he signed before the 2007 season.  The old contract included a $15 million team option for 2012 with a $1 million buyout.  Instead, the new deal covers next season as well as 2013.

Both parties showed mutual interest in getting this deal done.  Carpenter said that he hopes to finish his career with the Cardinals, and the 36 year old is now set up to do just that.

St. Louis now has their starting rotation locked up for 2012, as they already had Jaime Garcia, Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse under contract.  Along with Carpenter, the Cardinals have also indicated that they will be exercising Adam Wainwright’s option.

The Cardinals are also getting Carpenter at a bit of a reduced rate, as the right-hander is set to make $4.5 million less in 2012 than he is this season.  This will give the club some flexibility as it approaches contract discussions with slugger Albert Pujols.

Carpenter hasn’t been overly dominant this season, but he has managed to maintain an ERA of 3.80 and make over 30 starts for the Cardinals in 2011.  After getting off to a rocky start, Carpenter settled into a groove in June and July.  He’s been hit hard in several appearances since, but did put together a 4 hit complete game shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers last Wednesday.

After beginning his career with the Toronto Blue Jays, Carpenter has spent the past 8 seasons as a member of the Cardinals.  Over his 14 year Major League career, Carpenter has compiled a record of 142-92 to go with his 3.80 ERA and 1.283 WHIP.

Carpenter’s best years have come with the Cardinals.  Carpenter has represented the National League in the All-Star game three times, and won the NL Cy Young Award in 2005.

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