Carpenter (elbow) exercised his $5.5 million player option for 2024 on Friday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Carpenter slashed .176/.322/.319 across 236 plate appearances with the Padres in 2023 and was unlikely to attract a large offer in the open market, so he'll opt into $5.5 million heading into his age-38 season. Carpenter battled injuries and saw his playing time decrease during the latter half of the season, and it's possible he remains in a reserve role to begin the 2024 campaign.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Placed on IL
Rotowire
The Padres placed Carpenter on the 10-day injured list Friday with right elbow inflammation.
The move comes retroactive to Tuesday, so Carpenter will be eligible to return in a week. Carpenter has gone 2-for-10 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored since the start of September, and he will be replaced on the roster by Ji-Man Choi (ankle), who was reinstated from the injured list Friday.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Playing time picking up
Rotowire
Carpenter has started four of the Padres' past seven games after logging just 14 plate appearances across all of August.
Carpenter's increase in playing time has followed Jake Cronenworth (wrist) going on the injured list in late August. Three of Carpenter's past four starts have come at first base, and he's gone 2-for-10 with a home run, two RBI and a 4:5 BB:K during that stretch. The veteran is slashing a meager .176/.322/.319 on the campaign, but he may continue to see opportunities down the stretch, though it's unlikely he becomes an everyday starter.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Seeing scarce playing time
Rotowire
Carpenter hasn't seen any game action for the Padres since July 24, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
As Acee points out, Carpenter is the only player in the majors to have been on an active roster continuously since July 25 to have not appeared in a game during that time. The 37-year-old is batting just .166/.296/.302 on the season, and it may only be a matter of time that he loses his spot on the Padres roster. Carpenter is making $6.5 million in 2023 and holds a $5.5 million player option for 2024.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Sits again Saturday
Rotowire
Carpenter remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Tigers, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The veteran is hitting .169/.297/.307 on the season and has gone 2-for-33 at the plate in his last 16 games. As a result, he's lost his access to regular at-bats as a designated hitter, even against righties. Taylor Kohlwey filled that role Friday, but it will be Xander Bogaerts resting his legs there Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Takes seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Carpenter is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Blue Jays.
Carpenter has survived the Padres' recent roster churn -- while Nelson Cruz and Rougned Odor did not -- but Fernando Tatis is taking a turn as the DH on Wednesday versus the Blue Jays and right-hander Jose Berrios. Juan Soto, Trent Grisham and Taylor Kohlwey will start across the outfield.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Not starting Saturday
Rotowire
Carpenter isn't in the Padres' lineup Saturday against the Mets, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Carpenter's struggles at the plate have begun to cost him significant playing time, as Saturday marks the fifth time Carpenter will sit in San Diego's last seven games. Brandon Dixon will serve as the Padres' designated hitter and bat seventh.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Absent from lineup again
Rotowire
Carpenter is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Pirates.
Carpenter started Wednesday's game after being on the bench for eight straight, but he's now riding the pine again Thursday even with the Pirates starting a righty (Luis Ortiz). After putting up a .908 OPS in April, the 37-year-old has just a .497 OPS and 33 percent strikeout rate in the two months since. Because Carpenter doesn't provide value with the glove and has been in a deep slump at the plate for a while, his roster spot wouldn't seem to be secure at this point.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Sitting again Wednesday
Rotowire
Carpenter is out of the lineup again Wednesday versus the Giants.
Carpenter seems to have slumped his way into a bench-bat role, as this is his third straight absence from the Padres' starting lineup. Nelson Cruz will handle DH duties and hit seventh Wednesday night in San Francisco.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Not in lineup Tuesday
Rotowire
Carpenter is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Giants.
Rougned Odor will man DH for the Padres and bat sixth against the Giants and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani. Nelson Cruz and Gary Sanchez are also sitting. Carpenter, 37, has slashed just .135/.243/.214 over his last 103 plate appearances dating back to May 2.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Out of lineup Monday
Rotowire
Carpenter will sit Monday versus the Giants.
Carpenter will get a day off after he went 0-for-5 with a walk and a strikeout while starting the final two games of the team's series with Tampa Bay. Rougned Odor will take over at designated hitter and bat seventh in the series opener with San Francisco.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Out again vs. southpaw
Rotowire
Carpenter is not in the starting lineup versus the Rays on Friday.
Carpenter will get another day off Friday with southpaw Shane McClanahan on the hill for Tampa Bay. Nelson Cruz will handle the DH spot and hit seventh with Carpenter on the bench.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Out of lineup versus lefty
Rotowire
Carpenter is out of the lineup Thursday versus the Guardians.
Nelson Cruz is filling the DH role for the Padres and batting sixth with left-hander Logan Allen on the bump for Cleveland. Gary Sanchez is also on the bench.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
Carpenter will be on the bench for Saturday's game against the Rockies, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Carpenter finds himself on the bench for the second straight day, with the Rockies turning to another lefty in Kyle Freeland. Gary Sanchez will serve as the designated hitter.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Two hits, steal Wednesday
Rotowire
Carpenter went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a steal in Wednesday's 10-3 win over the Mariners.
Carpenter opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning before adding a second base hit in the third. It's just the second multi-hit game for Carpenter since the start of May, while the stolen base was his first since the 2021 season. Carpenter started the day in a 4-for-36 (.111) slump over his last 11 contests, though he's still seen regular playing time against right-handed pitching. He's slashing .192/.303/.362 with four homers, 26 RBI and 14 runs scored through 156 plate appearances this year.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Not in lineup Tuesday
Rotowire
Carpenter is absent from the Padres' lineup Tuesday versus the Mariners.
Gary Sanchez will take a turn at designated hitter and Austin Nola will start behind the plate against the Mariners and right-hander Logan Gilbert. Carpenter is 2-for-11 so far in June.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Sitting out Wednesday
Rotowire
Carpenter is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Carpenter broke out of a five-game hitless skid in Tuesday's 9-4 win with a pair of doubles and three RBI, but he'll hit the bench Wednesday with left-hander Braxton Garrett on the mound for Miami. Nelson Cruz will handle designated-hitter duties and hit seventh in place of Carpenter.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Doubles twice, drives in three
Rotowire
Carpenter went 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI in Tuesday's 9-4 victory over the Marlins.
Carpenter got San Diego on the board with an RBI double off Sandy Alcantara in the fourth inning, tying the game 1-1. He'd drive in another two runs with his second double in the ninth inning, extending the Padres' lead to 8-4. It's a step in the right direction for Carpenter, who'd been stuck in an 0-for-19 slump coming into Tuesday's contest. He's still slashing just .184/.307/.368 with four home runs and 24 RBI through 137 plate appearances while platooning with Nelson Cruz at DH.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: Not in Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Carpenter will sit Saturday against the Yankees, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Carpenter and Nelson Cruz have been in something close to a strict platoon at designated hitter this season, with Carpenter starting against righties. Right-hander Luis Severino starts for the Yankees on Saturday, but it will be Cruz getting the start nonetheless. Carpenter has looked like he could use a break, as he's gone 0-for-16 with eight strikeouts across his last four games.
... See More... See Less
Padres' Matt Carpenter: On bench against lefty
Rotowire
Carpenter is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Nationals.
Carpenter enjoyed a big day in the Padres' series finale against the Red Sox on Sunday, but he'll start out on the bench for Tuesday's opener against Washington with left-hander MacKenzie Gore set to take the mound. Nelson Cruz is serving as the DH and Brandon Dixon will play first base.
