Cardinals bring back INF Matt Carpenter on 1-year deal

Free agent infielder Matt Carpenter is returning to St. Louis, signing a one-year deal with the Cardinals for the 2024 season.

Financial terms were not announced.

The Cardinals selected Carpenter in the 13th round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of TCU, and he went on to make three All-Star teams during 11 years in St. Louis.

He spent the 2022 season with the New York Yankees and the 2023 campaign with the San Diego Padres, who traded him to the Atlanta Braves in the offseason. The Braves released him days later.

Carpenter, 38, has a career batting average of .260 over 1,452 games with 175 home runs among his 1,225 hits and 644 RBIs. With the Padres last season, he hit .176 with five homers and 31 RBIs in 76 games.

"When you think of players that helped shape our success in the 2000s, Matt Carpenter's name is one that is synonymous with winning," said John Mozeliak. the Cardinals president of baseball operations. "Matt showed from the very beginning of his career how hard work and determination can lead to success, and we are excited to have his leadership and experience back in a Cardinals uniform."

Carpenter holds the franchise record for the most career (24) and single-season (eight in 2018) lead-off home runs.