The New York Yankees signed three-time All-Star infielder Matt Carpenter to a Major League contract Thursday and added him to their active roster.
Carpenter, 36, was released by the Texas Rangers last week.
He signed a minor league deal with the Rangers and reported to Triple-A Round Rock. He was batting .275 with six home runs and 19 RBIs but the Rangers couldn’t find a spot for him on their big-league roster.
Carpenter’s first appearance with the Yankees will be his first in a major league uniform other than the St. Louis Cardinals. Carpenter spent 11 seasons with the Cardinals after they drafted him in the 13th round of the 2009 draft.
He’s a career .262/.368/.449 hitter with 155 home runs, 576 RBIs and 752 runs. He earned All-Star honors in 2013, 2014 and 2016. He finished fourth in National League MVP voting in 2013.
The Cardinals declined their option on Carpenter last November, paying a $2 million buyout that made him a free agent. He hit just .169 in 130 games in 2021.
The Yankees on Thursday also selected the contract of left-hander Manny Banuelos from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Banuelos, 31, will be making his Yankees debut and first major league appearance since 2019. He is 4-8 with a 6.31 ERA in 23 career MLB appearances (14 starts) with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox.
The Yankees also outrighted catcher Rob Brantly to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Brantly was designated for assignment Wednesday.
–Field Level Media