Matt Carpenter and Carlos Martinez’s time in a Cardinals uniform have officially come to an end.
Today, the Cardinals declined both player’s options for the 2022 season, making them both free agents.
Carpenter’s option was originally a vesting option as part of an extension he signed with the Cards early in the 2019 season. But because he did not have the amount of plate appearances required for that option to kick in, it became a club option.
Carpenter made his debut during the 2011 season. He was not on the World Series roster that year, but he did receive a ring. The next year, he became a valuable bench player and ultimately became a full-time player in 2013. He was a three-time All-Star during his time with the Cards.
Martinez showed glimpses of his former self as a starter this year, but was mostly inconsistent and ineffective, going 4-9 with a 6.23 ERA before his season came to an end on the Fourth of July due to a thumb injury he sustained while batting.
Though this was expected and was necessary, Cardinals fans should be grateful for what they got to see out of these two players. Carpenter was as consistent as they come before his decline, picking up some clutch hits in the postseason, most notably a go-ahead double against Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 of the 2014 NLDS. And who can forget his hot streak that was likely brought on by his secret salsa in 2018?
Martinez came up as a dominant, hard-throwing reliever before moving to the rotation in 2015. He was a two-time All-Star with St. Louis, receiving the NL Final Vote in ‘15 and being added to the roster in 2017. Injuries forced him back into the bullpen in 2018 and 2019, where he would serve as the team’s closer before they moved him into the rotation again in 2020. From then, Martinez never found his footing.
With both options being declined, $29 million has been taking off the books, giving St. Louis some more payroll flexibility this offseason.
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