Padres sign Carpenter to 1-year deal

The San Diego Padres signed utility player Matt Carpenter to a one-year deal with a player option for 2024, the team announced Tuesday.

Carpenter is guaranteed $12 million and the contract could be worth up to $21 million over two years if he exercises his player option and earns all of the deal's salary escalators and incentives, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports.

The 37-year-old is expected to field multiple positions for the Padres, roaming between first, second, and third base, as well as left and right field. He should also get plenty of time at designated hitter.

Carpenter had a resurgent 2022 campaign with the New York Yankees, hitting .305/.412/.727 with 15 home runs and 37 RBIs in 45 games.

The Texan played 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals before spending 2022 with the Yankees.

Carpenter is the latest addition by the Padres, who also acquired shortstop Xander Bogaerts and right-hander Seth Lugo on top of re-signing pitchers Nick Martinez and Robert Suarez.