It would not have been surprising if Matt Carpenter languished in free agency. The former St. Louis Cardinals utility man has seen his production drastically fall off over the past three seasons, getting to the point where he was practically unplayable. Carpenter just does not appear to have anything left.
But that is not stopping teams from checking in. According to reports, Carpenter has already heard from a few teams about a possible contract for the 2022 season.
Former St. Louis Cardinals utility man Matt Carpenter drawing early interest
Carpenter is under no delusions about his situation. He knows that he is not going to be a highly coveted free agent, especially given his struggles over the past few years. However, he feels that the potential of a designated hitter coming to the National League, as well as the possibility of the shift being banned, could allow him to have a revival next season.
The last three seasons have been disastrous. Carpenter has posted a .203/.325/.346 batting line in his 910 plate appearances, hitting 22 homers and 37 doubles. While he has been able to still get on base and draw a walk, the thunder just is not there in his bat any longer.
But there is always the chance that he can thrive in different surroundings. Adding the designated hitter could make a difference, especially as it would keep Carpenter from being in the field and cause him to wear down.
He may well be worth the risk. Carpenter is not going to cost much to bring in, and could end up as a solid veteran player off the bench. For a team that is looking to catch lightning in a bottle, and maybe find a lower cost trade chip for the deadline, Carpenter could be well worth a look.
Former St. Louis Cardinals utility man Matt Carpenter is already drawing interest in free agency. He may not sign right away, but he may have another chapter.