Matt Carpenter
After an incredible run before his injury during the 2022 season, Matt Carpenter has revived his career and could be an asset to the Cardinals lineup for the 2023 season.
While I suggested the idea recently as a complementary bat for the lineup, many fans are turned off by the idea due to his, frankly, terrible finish to his Cardinal career. Some have used the argument that he was aided by Yankee Stadium’s short porch, but that just does not prove to be true, per Baseball Savant metrics.
Not only would 13 of his 15 HRs have gone out in Busch Stadium, but the ban of the shift will greatly improve his wOBA, and he is one of the players most impacted by the shift in baseball. Carpenter showed during his 47 game stretch with the Yankees that he still has stuff left in the tank, and a reunion with St. Louis could benefit both sides.