8 Cardinals who should be playing their final games for St. Louis this weekend

Matt Carpenter

It's bittersweet to write this as Matt Carpenter is one of my favorite Cardinals in recent memory. He's a class act, a great teammate, and represented everything you'd want in a Cardinal, especially in his early years.

However, as the Cardinals turn a new page with this roster and organization, the same should be done when it comes to Matt Carpenter's spot on the roster.

I'd love to see Carpenter return in some kind of capacity as a coach. Players like Alec Burleson have credited him with key adjustments in his game, and he's clearly someone that players respect. Having him around this club is a good thing; just not as a player anymore.

Carpenter has actually been better than most people would have expected from him this year, posting a 101 wRC+ on a .238/.322/.385 slash line. Even so, it's hard to advocate for him taking up another roster spot going into what would be his age-39 season.

Carpenter's limited defensive versatility also hurts his case. He's started 39 games at DH, and just six games at other positions. He's really just a first baseman at this point when he does hit the field, but the Cardinals already have other options you'd rather see there in Alec Burleson and Luken Baker.

I could see Carpenter trying to play one more year with another club, but I do not see why the Cardinals would sign him to another contract unless it is to become an actual coach. There just isn't a place for him anymore, and the Cardinals need to prioritize the playing time of younger talent next season.