Three-time All-Star infielder Matt Carpenter won’t return to St. Louis Cardinals after all. Instead, Carpenter decided to join the MLB-leading New York Yankees on a one-year deal.
The Yankees confirmed the news on Thursday and immediately inserted Carpenter in their lineup to serve as a designated hitter. The 36-year-old player finished the game without a single hit but managed to score two runs.
Carpenter started 2022 with the Texas Rangers but didn’t make the final roster cut. He featured in Triple-A after that before the Rangers opted to release him earlier this month. There was some chatter that Carpenter might retire if his Cardinals don’t come calling, but it looks like no one counted the Yankees stepping in.
“We just had a quick conversation about it, but my response to him is that’s I’m excited to put a uniform on and be part of the best team in baseball right now,” Carpenter, who will play on a $1 million salary in 2022, said about the move. “I’m just fired up to be here. I’m going to hit the ground running.”
Carpenter will provide depth for the Yankees, who have been hit by a number of injuries in recent weeks. One of them is slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who was one of the best hitters on the team but will now be out for at least 10 days.
