ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals exercised a $2 million
option Friday on pitcher Chris Carpenter, who emerged as the team's
ace before missing the postseason because of arm trouble.
Carpenter, who earned $650,000 in salary and bonuses this year,
would have been paid a $200,000 buyout if the option had been
declined.
The 29-year-old right-hander went a career-best 15-5 with a 3.46
ERA in 28 starts, striking out 152 and walking 38 in 182 innings.
His .750 winning percentage ranked second in the NL and his 2.82
ERA after the All-Star break was fourth.
In helping lead the Cardinals to the best regular-season record
in the major leagues at 105-57, Carpenter was slated to be the
team's top starter in the playoffs before nerve damage to his right
biceps on Sept. 18, the day the Cardinals clinched the NL Central.
Without him, St. Louis won the NL pennant but was swept by
Boston in the World Series.
Carpenter missed the 2001 season and most of 2002 while
recuperating from a pair of shoulder operations. The 6-foot-6,
230-pounder was selected the NL's comeback player of the year by
The Sporting News.
Carpenter pitched six seasons for Toronto, going 49-50 with a
4.83 ERA, before signing with St. Louis in December 2002. In 163
starts over his seven-year major league career, Carpenter is 64-55
with a 4.59 ERA.
Woody Williams, the Cardinals' ace in Carpenter's absence, filed
for free agency Thursday after the team told his agent it would
decline his $8 million option and pay a $900,000 buyout, a move the
Cardinals made official Friday. Right-hander Matt Morris also has
filed for free agency.