Third baseman Matt Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a new six-year, $52 million deal. The two sides finally reached a deal after starting contract talks last August.
The deal has a team option for 2020 for $18.5 million. Carpenter would get a $2 million buyout if the Cardinals don’t pick up the option. He got a $1 million signing bonus and his salary for this year is $1.5 million. His salary will be bigger every year with it reaching $14.5 million in 2019, the final year of the new deal, according to the Associated Press.
''For a baseball junkie like myself, I can't think of a better place to play than the city of St. Louis,'' Carpenter said. ''Busch Stadium, I still pinch myself every time I make that drive to the field. Playing in front of these fans, the city of St. Louis, Cardinal baseball as a whole, it's just so much fun. It's such a privilege to put on this jersey. It's something I don't take lightly at all.''
Carpenter played in the majors for the first time in 2012. Last year he hit .318 and led the National League in hits (199), doubles (55), and runs (126), according to ESPN. He played second base last year, but will play third base this season. Carpenter received his first All-Star selection last year and was fourth in MVP voting.
Signing Carpenter is good news for the Cardinals as he is a good player. It will be interesting to see if Carpenter stays with the Cardinals after 2019.