Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and skipper Mike Matheny held a press conference at 1:30 pm CST today to discuss SP Chris Carpenter’s future with the Cardinals. Mozeliak has announced that is is “very unlikely” that Carpenter will pitch in 2013. Although not an official retirement announcement, the news seems to have all but closed the book on what has been an illustrious career for Chris Carpenter.
After dealing with shoulder, neck, and nerve damage throughout the majority of the 2012 season, it appeared the the 37 year old right hander was poised for a comeback after 3 solid starts towards the end of the regular season and 3 starts during the post season. It was announced today, however, that Carpenter had approached his management team and told them that he hadn’t been throwing and that his injury had been re-aggravated, putting his career in jeopardy. Mozeliak stated that Carpenter has been experiencing redness and bruising in his shoulder and hand. He also mentioned that Carpenter was not at the press conference today, stating that the pitcher was not ready to speak with the media yet.
Mozeliak and Matheny spoke at length about their respect for Carpenter and both made it clear that he would be always be a welcome part of the organization. “I don’t know that I’ve ever witnessed a better competitor,” stated Matheny. “Something is going to be missed.”
With pitchers and catchers due to report to training in Jupiter, FL in a week, Mozeliak said that he would have rather found out ahead of time. When asked about whether or not he was comfortable with the pitching staff and prospects that the team has versus pursuing options such as Kyle Lohse, Mozeliak said that he was “comfortable with what [they] have.”
Carpenter is set to meet with the Cardinal medical staff, and while the word “retirement” was not used during this press conference, it appears that, for the time being at least, the well loved Cardinal pitcher is putting his glove away.
