Current Contract
Signed a five-year, $63.5 million contract extension with a $15 million club option for 2012 on December 4, 2006.

2007: $8,500,000
2008: $10,500,000
2009: $14,000,000
2010: $14,500,000
2011: $15,000,000
2012: $15,000,000 (or $1,000,000 buyout)

*$8 million of the contract will be deferred without interest ($2 million annually from 2009-12). Award bonuses include: $250,000 for Cy Young ($100,000 for 2nd-3rd place, $50,000 for 4th-5th), $50,000 each for All Star selection, MVP, Gold Glove, and LDS, LCS and WS MVP.

Agent: Bob LaMonte

Became a Cardinal
Signed as a free agent on December 13, 2002.

2008 Season
Carpenter has made just four starts among five appearances since opening day 2007. He finished the 2008 campaign with an 0-1 record with a remarkable 1.76 ERA, considering all the lost playing time. At the end of the season after pitching in just four games, including three starts for a grand total of just 15.1 innings, surgery for a compressed nerve in his right shoulder was being considered. If Carpenter proceeds with surgery, in a timely manner, he could be ready for spring training.

UPDATE: 10/01/08, Carpenter opted against shoulder surgery on his shoulder and will take the route of rest and therapy on the area affected by the nerve condition on his shoulder.

2007 Season
Missed the entire season after his opening day start, due to injury and subsequent elbow surgeries to include; one in May to remove bone chips and Tommy John Surgery in July. Carpenter will be out until at least the All-Star break next season, and realistically we won't see him in effective form until 2009

Career Notes
A first round draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in 1993, Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into the majors in 1997 with the Blue Jays. After compiling a 49-50 record in his first six seasons, Carpenter had surgery in September 2002 to repair a tear in his pitching shoulder, and the Blue Jays wanted to send him back to the minors. He refused the assignment and chose to become a free agent before signing with St. Louis.

Carpenter missed the 2003 season while rehabilitating his shoulder and was forced to have another operation in July to remove scar tissue.

Player Awards
NL Cy Young Award 2005
NL TSN Pitcher of the Year 2006
NL TSN Pitcher of the Year 2005
NL All-Star 2006
NL All-Star 2005

Photo: St. Louis Cardinals