As MLB’s offseason continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Will Carpenter find a new team?
The Braves released veteran slugger Matt Carpenter yesterday, sending the 38-year-old to the open market. Carpenter posted an otherworldly performance as a member of the Yankees in 2022 when he slashed a whopping .305/.412/.727 across just 47 games. Outside of that brief stint in the Bronx, however, Carpenter has posted below average offensive numbers every year following the 2018 campaign, when he finished in the top-10 of NL MVP voting with the Cardinals.
While Carpenter’s age and mostly meager production in recent years make it reasonable to wonder if he’ll be able to land a job with a big league club, it’s worth noting that any interested club would only have to pay a pro-rated portion of the big league minimum for the time Carpenter spends on the roster given the Padres and Braves are still on the hook for his 2024 salary. That could make him an affordable option for teams in need of a lefty bat on a tight budget.
2. Royals working through roster crunch:
The Royals have spent more than $100MM on free agents this offseason, and the influx of additions has led to something of a logjam on the 40-man roster in recent weeks. To accommodate their new signings, Kansas City has shipped right-hander Taylor Clarke to Milwaukee, outfielder Edward Olivares to Pittsburgh, and most recently right-hander Jonathan Heasley to Baltimore in minor trades while also surrendering right-hander Collin Snider to the Diamondbacks on waivers. That flurry of activity has allowed them to make official the signings of right-handers Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Chris Stratton as well as left-hander Will Smith.
Even after all of that, the club still has one more player for whom they’ll need to open a 40-man roster spot: outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who the club reportedly agreed to a two-year deal with last week. The Royals have largely been successful in working out small trades for marginal players on their 40-man roster while navigating through this roster crunch, though it remains to be seen if they’ll pull off a fourth swap in that vein or have to settle for designating a player for assignment to accommodate Renfroe as they did with Snider to make room for Smith.
3. MLBTR chat today:
With the new year swiftly approaching, are there any questions burning in your mind about the offseason as 2023 comes to a close? Are you wondering what’s next for your favorite team, or perhaps curious about what the market for a particular free agent looks like? If so, tune in this afternoon when MLBTR’s Steve Adams hosts a live chat with readers at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after its completed.
Carpenter, perfect signing for the cheap Guardian’s ownership..
Not so fast @ Bill.
Welcome to Oakland, Matt…
This reels of Jerry Dipoto’s penchant for signing cheap veterans who used to be decent. See Pollack, A.J.; LaStella, Tommy; Wong, Kolten. Welcome to the Mariners, Matt, the team where good hitters go to hit .180.
I could see that happening, and they’d still do it even if there’s like an 80% chance he’ll suck because the price is right. Hey, they blew $4M on a catcher who is probably gonna produce a .165 BA
Guards don’t need another DH. They would bring back Kole Calhoun miles before Carp.
“Will Carpenter find a new team?”
No
A better question is why did the Padres give him such a good deal last year?
154 PAs. What do we all think was the best offer for him other than that Padre offer?
How about in Japan or Korea
Of course Carpenter will find a new home if he wants to play. He’s essentially a no cost flyer that can be non-tendered in spring training.
Exactly. At worst, the Yankees seem like a good team again as spring training injury insurance.
AL central definitely up for grabs. If KC can do it why isn’t Baltimore getting off their @$$?
In fairness, Baltimore won 101 games last year, best in the American League and second in the majors. It’s not like they had a lot of heavy lifting to do this off-season, compared to others.
Also, pretty sure KC finished behind several double A teams in the standings. They needed to add a lot in order to be recognized as a major league team.
They have the worst rotation in the division. Everyone of those guys overachieved last season except GRod.
So in fairness to all the O fans who been waiting decades for a contender – they need to be making moves. Giolito, Clevinger, woodruff, stroman. They should be in on all those guys.
Or with 6 top 50 prospects (with all recent graduations to the roster they don’t need them all) they could pull off a trade for or of the reported available arms and set themselves up for a big get in FA next year.
This is such an obvious garbage take. The Orioles were third in team era in the AL East in 2023. The Yankees and Blue Jays don’t even have full rotations right now. Baltimore will be starting spring training with 6 proven arms who are all 3s, 4s or better. Most teams would kill for that kind of depth
Woodruff is at best available in 25, and no one knows that he will be the same pitcher. Giolito and Clevinger would not crack the O’s rotation, nor should they. Both were once impressive but that was a while ago. Stroman is ok but coming off a season ending injury. Baltimore has done pretty well following a plan, so tearing that up and sinking money into retreads is probably not the wisest move.
I didn’t know they made koolaide in Baltimore. I had to check the 40 man roster to see if I was missing someone
GRod
Bradish
Means
Kremer
That’s 4. 4 is not 6. And if wells and hall are 5 and 6, you are mistaken. They are not proven. And if anything with wells – he proved he can’t start.
In the post season, you play limited games and need a front line started. It’s ok, how would Os fans know this lol. Yankees have Cole, Jays have gausman. They both preform at their ceiling. So GRod would have to raise his game to that level to be that person for O’s. He’s very good, but doubt he hits that level next offseason. So why not Snell or Montgomery- they could have spent a fortune on one of them while rest of league is fighting over yamomato.
Bruh….who’s your fifth starter ? It ain’t wells. He broke down over the work load last season.
Bradish is legit but if that was his career year last year – would it really be a surprise ? He doesn’t have the pedigree many top pitching prospects have when they breakout at 27
Means is 30 and Os couldn’t even find a buyer for him at deadline 2 years ago
And kremer needs tremendous run support. He’s a 5th starter.
Everyone one of those pitchers would slot in behind GRod and Bradish
Wells just posted a sub 4 ERA and was pulled due to an innings limit. Cole Irvin makes 6 starters. No, the rotation isn’t elite, but it’s indisputably above average.
Expecting the O’s to be a contender for the next decade, but wouldn’t be surprised at all if there’s some regression this season. Consistently winning a division is not easy.
Will Carpenter, 80 million, 10 years, deferred, lifetime supply of Rice A Roni, Dodgers.
Best comment eve. Made me sign up just to like this
Not sure I fully understand as Rice A Roni used to be the San Francisco treat…
Only in San Francisco would it be a treat.
American past time is Japanese sushi!!!!
Considering their division, the Royals could actually be competitive in 2024. They have Bobby Witt, Jr. Add a stronger pitching staff and a bat in Renfroe and they could make some noise in the AL Central.
Yep add four more good bats and at least three pitchers, and they might be competitive.
I like what the Royals are doing in that weak division. With Minnesota, Cleveland and Chicago having minimal interest in the free agent market and Detroit losing Eduardo Rodriguez in free agency, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Royals won that division. Getting Wacha and Lugo in affordable deals were key upgrades. Maybe bring back Merrifield next?
With Hosmer, Carpenter and probably others I can’t remember, how much money are the cash-strapped Padres paying out for guys no longer on the roster?
Man oh man — Preller …
$13 million a year in ‘24 and ‘25 to Hos. They only paid $1.5 million to Atlanta towards Carpenter’s salary.
Zero for Hos (finally)
And $1.5M for Carp (thank you Atl)
Brew – I think they have 12.5 for hos in 24 and 25.
correct
It’s also who they will have to be paying out for at the end of their respective deals when they get released. Yes, years down the road but it will happen.
They do? Ugh, I mixed up timing with that of Pomeranz
Yeah that was what I figured. He has fallen off but I suspect insurance was covering a large percentage of his last 2 years anyway.
If they stay under this year for reset and don’t trade away those top 6-10 guys things should come around in 25.
If you think about it, long term contract SP doesn’t really make that much sense with Mazur, Snelling, Berger, Lesko, and Thorpe all 1 year (or less away).
Get by with the Avila/Waldron/Knehr/Vasquez and all of the other similar guys in the pool for 2024.
Maybe sign a 1 -2 year contract with a Cueto type near ST just for good measure.
About Hos – he can be had for league min. In addition to what they already have to pay him. Any other scrap heap guy will be the same cost.
Maybe he is the LH bench bat for 24? Wouldn’t that be ironic if he came back and had a Sanchez type resurgence!
Insurance on players has gotten expensive and I’m not sure it’s broadly used like it used to be. More likely, teams but annuities and self insure more and more deals today.
Carpenter is Tommy La Stella plus! Do your magic, Jerry.
You had to mention Tommy La Stella right before I have my breakfast.
Perfect fit for the Mariners DH spot. Cheap and terrible right up Dipotos alley!
I agree. Cheap, and will be DFA in August when he’s hitting .140. And in Jerry’s defense, I think it’s Stanton and co that are tying Jerry’s hands.
Carpenter to the Rays or Indians. Two penny pinchers hoping for another dead-cat bounce back seems likely. Weather is better for old man Carp in Florida.
Rays have enough INFs to find at bats for.
I don’t know why I think Po Boy is going to sign Carpenter. I guess it is because he likes to collect infielders and is a sucker for a dumpster dive cheap guy.
Marlins? He can stand in the OF and DH. They’re ballin on a budget too.
Matt should have a statue in St Louis and also arguably in New York.
Matt Carpenter’s market value is $2M according to Spotrac. That’s a lot of money for someone who has provided -1.9 Wins Above Average since 2019. I guess he could fit in well with a team like Oakland or Colorado that have no desire to win.
Carpenter, cheap lefty bat. Perfect signing for the cheap Astros owner
If the Astros are cheap what does that say about half or 2/3 of the other owners?
That MLB needs a salary floor
And a cap.
With a narrow corridor between the two.
No cap.. Teams shouldn’t be penalized for being successful and having more money to spend. Economics tells us that a floor will provide more benefit than a hard cap/luxury thresholds.
Start divin’, Jed!
Pittsburgh Mr. Carpenter!
should Cubs fans be worried about the team’s lack of activity so far
Word on the street is they’re on the brink of signing Rhys Hoskins.
Just once I’d like to see the released washed up player take the money and go home.
Carpenter back to San Diego!
Should’ve just kept Carpenter for a pinch hitter.
Carpenter is an impostor.