The St. Louis Cardinals are coming off one of their worst seasons in recent memory.
Finishing with a record of 71-91, the Cardinals finished in last place in the NL Central.
That was the first time they were under .500 since 2007.
But, knowing the Cardinals, they are expecting to get back to the playoffs in 2024.
They have been quite active this postseason and have made some improvements to their roster.
One player they recently signed is Matt Carpenter.
According to the Cardinals, Carpenter agreed to a one-year deal to come back to St. Louis.
Welcome back, Matt!
We have signed three-time All-Star INF Matt Carpenter to a one-year contract for the 2024 season.#ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/qtA6d0wCcX
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) January 19, 2024
Last season, Carpenter played 76 games for the San Diego Padres.
But, he struggled to produce much of anything.
In those games, Carpenter hit .176 with five home runs and 31 RBI.
He is entering his age-38 season and should not be expected to do much this year.
Carpenter has always been a fan favorite in St. Louis.
He put together some monster seasons and even made three All-Star teams.
But, to expect him to be a difference-maker next season would be foolish.
This could be the final year for Carpenter, who most likely wants to retire as a Cardinal.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Cardinals next season.
They have a veteran team and play in a competitive division.
Many people are expecting them to bounce back to the top of this division.
Even if the Cardinals are good next season, do not expect big contributions from Carpenter.
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Cardinals Executive Names 1 Lingering Focus This Offseason