Texas Rangers Release Former 3-Time All-Star

It was a bit of a long shot when he signed a minor league contract to try to continue his career with his hometown team, but the dream is now over for Matt Carpenter—released by the Texas Rangers. 

The former 3-time All-Star St. Louis Cardinals mainstay, Carpenter got in 95 plate appearances at Triple-A Round Round of the PCL, and actually performed pretty well, hitting .275 with a .991 OPS, 6 HR and 19 RBIs. But the Rangers just didn't feel they had enough at-bats to offer the 36-year-old, and they mutually decided to part ways.

Also, the Rangers have released Matt Carpenter from AAA.

“We appreciate Matt’s leadership and the example he set during his time with the organization,” said Jon Daniels. “We have nothing but respect for the way he carries himself and wish him and his family the best.”

— Levi Weaver (@ThreeTwoEephus) May 19, 2022

“We appreciate Matt’s leadership and the example he set during his time with the organization,” said Rangers president Jon Daniels. “We have nothing but respect for the way he carries himself and wish him and his family the best.” 

Carpenter becomes a free agent, and with his strong start at Round Rock, it's possible he could still land himself another contract elsewhere in the big leagues. 

Twice a Top 10 MVP finisher, Carpenter sports career numbers of a .262 average with an .818 OPS. His contributions, however, had declined precipitously over the previous couple of years, prompting the Cardinals to set him free after 11 seasons.

Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports