The Atlanta Braves have been highly active during this offseason. Despite their outstanding regular season performance last year, where they secured the best record with 104 wins, the Braves faced disappointment in the playoffs, being eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series.
In their ongoing offseason maneuvers, the Braves have made another addition by acquiring former St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Matt Carpenter, left-handed pitcher Ray Kerr, and cash considerations from the San Diego Padres. This trade involved sending outfielder Drew Campbell to the Padres, as confirmed by the club.
During the 2023 season, Carpenter struggled in his 76 games with the Padres, hitting five home runs, driving in 31 runs, and recording a slash line of .176/.322/.319. At 38 years old, Carpenter is likely seen more as a depth option than a regular starter at this point in his career, although he could still contribute to a team in need.
In 2022, Carpenter had a more impressive performance with the New York Yankees, playing in 47 games and hitting 15 home runs, with 37 RBIs, and a slash line of .305/.412/.727. The Braves, however, seem to have other plans for Carpenter, as they are reportedly looking to trade him, according to information from The Athletic’s David O’Brien. O’Brien suggests that the Braves intend to follow a similar strategy to when they acquired bad contracts in the deal for Jarred Kelenic, indicating that Carpenter might not stay with Atlanta for long.
Therefore, it won’t be surprising if Carpenter finds himself on the move again in the near future.