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On the salary question, the $740,000 would be about the same as whoever the prior 26th man would have received. So it isn’t like incremental money is being wasted. And the Cards can always release him if he is a drain.
Still, I get why so many are questioning the move. It suggests to me that the 2023 leadership was a bigger problem than we thought.
bling wrote:
It seems like there is some negative over reaction. The last guy on the bench never contributes much.
jj wrote:
This is rent as you go, once the season starts. The risk is a release away.
The problem with this theory is that the Cardinals don’t use their nostalgia tour players as the last guy on the bench. Instead og getting 150 AB’s Carp will probably get at least 350 regardless of results. BDW III is probably assuming this signing will cause all of the games to be sold out by Monday morning. The Cardinals just can’t help themselves.
Katie Woo is wrong on this one. If anyone truly believes that Carp will be the 26th man and will be released if he doesn’t produce then they aren’t familiar with how the Cardinal nostalgia tours work.
Looks to be unanimous here at the fka “Birdhouse”, as all on board vote “no” on this. I seem to recall it was a unanimous no, or nearly so, when the club gave Carp that cushy extension back a few years ago as well.
Don’t mind telling y’all, I am pretty pessimistic about the upcoming season. I am not sure we will even match the measly 71 wins of last year. To do that, I don’t think it will be all these old geezers we have providing leadership and production. It will take the youngsters making big strides – guys like Gorman, Nootbaar, Winn, Walker, and a surprise pitcher or two.
But it could be worse. At a local SABR gathering last week the group was asked, “How many here feel the Rockies will lose at least 100 games.” Nearly everyone, including me, raised their hands.
And the Cards can always release him if he is a drain.
I gotta disagree with this one, BW. I cannot see the FO releasing a future Cards HOFer. Bling hit it on the head. This is a ticket selling nostalgia tour and there’s way too many fans getting in line.
While they could potentially still make the team, Burly and Luken probably won’t now. So it comes down to is Matt Carpenter in 2024 a better choice as a late game pinch hitter for Winn/Edman (along with starting once every great while) than Burleson or Baker? I’ve thought about this and I think it depends. If the bases are loaded, then Carpenter is probably the right choice given his extremely high walk %. Or, if we just need a base runner, then I’d again pick Carpenter. If we need a home run I’m taking Baker every day of the week and twice on Sunday. And if we need someone to make contact to get a runner moved over then Burleson is probably the best choice. Overall, it’s probably a wash in the end. So I guess that makes this not a bad signing if we do truly get a good team player with leadership. But I also still believe that it was totally unnecessary because he’s basically redundant and now that redundant player is using up a roster spot. So at face value, as long as we aren’t giving him too many at bats then this probably matters little. But it also just feels kind of stupid. I feel similar to how I feel about Lance Lynn returning. Neither feels needed because we already have someone just as good. But neither really hurts anything other than using up a roster spot that could have been used more efficiently than just getting a redundant piece. I hope it works. I love Matt Carpenter. He WAS a great Cardinal player. Let’s hope he provides us with a few more great moments. And if not, let’s hope he doesn’t make the team out of Spring Training.
Can Carpenter play short when Wynn struggles? Lol
Baker and Burlson will suffer development
I think they will be quicker to pull the trigger on cutting Carpenter than other legends. What other legend was playing for minimum salary?
But we could catch lightning in a bottle. Appears Holiday may have recommended the signing
Also who knows with limited exposure how he can perform
It is on Oli if he stupid enough to bat him against a LH
BHC said:
I gotta disagree with this one, BW. I cannot see the FO releasing a future Cards HOFer.
Bling hit it on the head. This is a ticket selling nostalgia tour and there’s way too many fans getting in line.
I mostly agree with the second part. But even that is a bit questionable. With Carp having no set role, fans will never know when he is going to play. And who would come in for the weekend to maybe see him pinch hit once? He ain’t Albert and they can’t have more than one Carpenter bobblehead day! 😉
The first part depends on how he plays when he gets a chance. They’re not going to keep him if he is hitting .100 several months into the season, for example, even given that he was once an all-star. Remember the main reason they didn’t release poor performers during the season previously. It was because of the salary they would have to eat. Not a problem with Carpenter being paid the minimum.
It’s not like he is Wainwright going for 200 wins.
The last bench player needs to be a RH hitter, but I don’t think it will be Baker. It needs to be someone who can base run decently,at a minimum, and hopefully offer positional versatility.
Remember the main reason they didn’t release poor performers during the season previously. It was because of the salary they would have to eat. Not a problem with Carpenter being paid the minimum.
MOtter hit .171/.232/.211 and was still DFA’d three times, including getting DFA’d back onto the 26-man roster. He also had a minimum salary.
Well this was this from January 7th:
Interesting group at Jackson Holliday’s wedding! pic.twitter.com/7QGdkUkedw
— Turnin’ 2 Podcast ⚾️ (@Turnin2Podcast) January 7, 2024
I think 2024 will be better record wise than 2023; I just don’t know by how much.
If the Cards decide not to keep Carp I’m sure they will have a come to Jesus meeting with him first and let him announce his retirement or let him be ‘injured’.
For an organization that seems to be pinching every penny 740 K is a pretty big throw away….they are fighting their current CF over $450 K in an arbitration hearing
They desperately need another 1 probaly 2 relief pitchers but appear to have no money to sign them
Yet they are throwing away $$’s hoping to catch lightning in a bottle like they did with Pujols I guess…problem is Carpenter has had like one 47 game stretch with the Yankees of good hitting in the last 5 years….really just a ridiculous signing should have just hired him as an assistant hitting coach
GG said:
For an organization that seems to be pinching every penny 740 K is a pretty big throw away….they are fighting their current CF over $450 K in an arbitration hearing
Again, the $740K is not a throwaway. That is the same amount the guy Carpenter replaced would have earned. The 40-man was full before and it is full now. Naile left and Carpenter joined.
Poor phrasing on my part
Throwaway meaning I don’t think the guy can play anymore that money and roster spot probably would have been better used on acquiring another pitcher that they desperately need
Again, the $740K is not a throwaway.
I guess you could say the Cards are paying the Braves 740K instead of some other player. Maybe Anthopoulos will treat Mo and Bill well next opportunity, lol.
There has to be some deserving young prospect out there who can provide equal or greater value for the same money and level of risk. While there certainly is also a need for veteran leadership, as Mo says he wants to fill, I’m afraid Carpenter ain’t it.
I’m not sure a guy who is wasting space on the roster and hasn’t hit within 50 pounds of his weight in years will command much respect in the clubhouse. Beating the dead horse here but this is such a stupid waste of time and money move, release or not.
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