Chris Carpenter confirmed to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he wouldn’t prevent the Cardinals from trading him and added that he doesn’t expect or hope for a trade. The right-hander says the Cardinals are a contender, so he doesn’t think GM John Mozeliak will look to sell.
"For them to come to me about [a trade] would suggest our team is out of it and they wanted to go in another direction," Carpenter said. "I certainly don't see that being the case. I think we've got a great shot not just to win this division but to get to the World Series. That's my expectation and I think it's what everybody in here expects.”
The Cardinals, who lost Adam Wainwright to Tommy John surgery, have a 2012 option for Carpenter worth $15MM. Albert Pujols becomes a free agent after the season and holding onto Carpenter and Pujols won’t be easy.
Pujols will presumably cost upwards of $200MM and the Cardinals’ payroll is not big enough to sustain a $30MM player without cutting costs elsewhere. Cardinals sources suggest to Strauss that the team is unlikely to increase payroll from the $100MM range to $115MM in 2012.
Why don’t more teams and GMS just withhold information, instead of spreading falsehoods?
It is going to be very interesting to watch the Cardinals front office work this year. A definite test of skills for them.
Probably let all three walk and start over – then have money to spend
Pujols is going to buy himself out of baseball. Any team would be crazy to pay that kind of money.
Fortunately for Pujols, “crazy” and “MLB owner” are terms that go together like chocolate and peanut butter.
Rumor has it Carpenter left the game today under trainer escourt. Let the bidding for Puljos begin!!!!!!!!
I wouldn’t be suprised if the cards fall out of contention and decide to ship him off to the Yankees, that is if they don’t solve their pitching problems before the trade deadline.
The cardinals are off to a terrible start with Pujols and the constant injuries of Wainwright, Punto, Fresse, Boggs, and now rumors of Carpenter being hurt; this doesn’t look like its going to be a good year.