The Padres and Matt Carpenter have agreed to a deal for 2023 with a player option for the 2024 season, a source told MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell on Tuesday. The club has not confirmed.
Carpenter will play something of a utility role in San Diego — some first, left, right, DH and potentially backup second and third as well.
Carpenter’s career appeared to be on its last legs entering 2022, as he was coming off of three subpar offensive seasons in St. Louis. However, upon signing with the Yankees in late May, Carpenter found the fountain of youth at age 36 and did his best Barry Bonds impression at the plate over the next two months. He batted .360 with a 1.406 OPS and 13 home runs in his first 30 games with New York. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Carpenter became just the seventh Major Leaguer since 1900 to bash at least 13 homers through his first 30 games with a club.
Carpenter slumped after the All-Star break and then was sidelined for the final two months of the regular season after fouling a ball off his left foot on Aug. 8 and being diagnosed with a fracture. He was able to return for the postseason but went 1-for-12 with nine strikeouts between the ALDS and ALCS.
The 12-year veteran ended last season with a .305/.412/.727 slash line with 15 dingers and 37 RBIs in 47 games. Carpenter’s 22.7 percent K rate was his lowest since 2017, and his 217 wRC+ led all players with at least 150 plate appearances.
A longtime infielder, Carpenter largely split his time between designated hitter and the outfield last season. He made a career-high 14 starts as an outfielder, 11 of which came in right. He played just two games at third base, his most common position with the Cardinals. Carpenter was a three-time All-Star over 11 seasons in St. Louis and recorded a 128 OPS+ from 2012-17.