Chris Carpenter to take break from St. Louis Cardinals front office

Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter will take a break from his front office position during the 2015 season.

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Carpenter was attending the 2014 Granite State Baseball Dinner this weekend in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he helped to raise funds for the Fisher Cats.

“I’m actually not doing anything for them this next season,” Carpenter told the New Hampshire Union-Leader. “I’m going to step back and take some time with my kids and enjoy my children a little bit.”

This past season, Carpenter worked in the front office as a Special Assistant to General Manager John Mozeliak.

Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays as a first round pick in 1993, Carpenter made his debut in 1997. After six seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Carpenter signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent in December 2003—the very same offseason that brought Adam Wainwright into the organization following a trade with the Atlanta Braves.

In nine seasons with the Cardinals, Carpenter posted a 95-44 record with a 3.07 ERA. He was selected to the National League All-Star team in 2005, 2006, and 2010. Carpenter, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2005, had top-three finishes in both the 2006 and 2009 seasons.

But after the winner-take-all NLDS Game 5 against Roy Halladay and the Philadelphia Phillies, Carpenter was just never the same pitcher. He dealt with a thoracic outlet syndrome during the 2012 season. Following rib surgery, Carpenter recovered in time to pitch late in the season.

Carpenter didn’t pitch at all during the 2013 season and made his retirement official shortly thereafter.