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Red Sox Rumors: Swapping bad contacts key to trading David Price

By Sean Penney

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: David Price #10 of the Boston Red Sox looks at the ball from the mound during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 04, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 04: David Price #10 of the Boston Red Sox looks at the ball from the mound during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 04, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 14: Matt Carpenter #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on prior to playing against the Washington Nationals in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Nationals Park on October 14, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 14: Matt Carpenter #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on prior to playing against the Washington Nationals in Game Three of the National League Championship Series at Nationals Park on October 14, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals are already contenders after winning 91 games and the NL Central title last season but they could use another postseason-tested arm in their rotation to be considered a serious World Series threat.

Matt Carpenter‘s production fell off a cliff in his age 33 season when he hit .226 with a below-average 91 OPS+ in 129 games. The previous year saw him set career-highs with 36 home runs and a 143 OPS+ though. Is he suffering from drastic age-related decline or was this simply an exaggerated hiccup on the downward slope of his career?

Betting on some positive regression wouldn’t be a terrible idea for the Red Sox if it helps them save salary. The versatile infielder could be Boston’s solution at either first or second base, depending on which position they prefer to stick Michael Chavis. Carpenter can also fill in occasionally a third base if Rafael Devers needs a breather.

Carpenter is owed $18.5 million in each of the next two years plus a $2 million buyout on his 2022 vesting option. Boston would save $12.5 million in each of the next two seasons for tax purposes and they potentially clear the contract from their books a year earlier than Price’s deal expires.

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