The Baltimore Orioles figured Alex Cobb would be a fine fit.Cobb stayed in the division he knew best, finalizing a $57 million, four-year contract on Wednesday."They used the AL East and the success I've had in it to their advantage," the 30-year-old right-hander said. "They kept challenging me with it and I love the challenge of pitching in this division and they know that over the times we talked. They did a really good job of making me feel like this is where I need to be."Cobb had spent his entire six-season big league career with Tampa Bay and was the last top starting pitcher available in a slow-moving free agent market.Cobb joined Andrew Cashner and Chris Tillman, who were signed last month, in a revamped rotation that includes holdovers Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman.The Orioles are coming off a last-place finish and 75-87 record.Cobb was 12-10 with a 3.66 ERA in 29 starts last season. He pitched 179 1/3 innings in his first full year back after missing nearly two seasons because... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — When considering where to slot Dexter Fowler in the batting order, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny isn't concerned about last year.There's additional data to consider."He's got a pretty good track record of being successful at the top of the order," Matheny said. "You don't take any small sample and put that in concrete. He's done a nice job over the course of his career of getting on base and making things happen at the top."A career .268 hitter, Fowler batted just .205 in 51 games last season as the Cardinals' leadoff man. That came after hitting .277 from the leadoff spot for the World Series-winning Chicago Cubs the previous year.That performance, the allure of a disruptive force on the basepaths and a good glove in center field prompted the Cardinals to sign Fowler to a five-year, $82.5 million contract prior to the 2017 season.With Fowler and the offense struggling as a whole last season, Matheny juggled the lineup. Not primarily known as a run producer, Fowler... [More]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Matt Carpenter is showing the St. Louis Cardinals what they were missing while he was sidelined by a back strain.A day after making his spring training debut, Carpenter hit a two-run, wind-aided home run off Justin Verlander in the Cardinals' 3-1 win over Houston on Wednesday.Carpenter also singled through the right side of the infield in the first inning."Great at-bats," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Happy to see where he is right now."Carpenter walked twice Tuesday against Miami and reached base in all four plate appearances.With Dexter Fowler returning to the leadoff spot, Carpenter once again hitting third and newly acquired Marcell Ozuna batting cleanup, the Cardinals are hoping for a revived offense.With Fowler and Aledmys Diaz struggling in front of him last season, Carpenter hit a career-low .241. He hopes he is protected more in this year's batting order."They don't want to add somebody on a base for someone who hit 30 home runs last year and... [More]

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Cardinals manager Mike Matheny isn't sure when first baseman Matt Carpenter will make his Grapefruit League debut.Carpenter is battling back tightness. For the time being, he is in the hands of the Cardinals' medical staff, who will determine when Carpenter can return to the field."When they are in their hands, we're following their lead," Matheny said. "They'll tell us."A three-time All-Star, the 32-year-old Carpenter missed much of last spring with back and oblique soreness.Matheny believes Carpenter's recent preseason injury issues can be attributed to his tenacious spring regimen."This is like Disney World for a baseball rat — spring training," Matheny said, "You come down, you can work all you want, the sun is shining, you use these beautiful facilities, you've got every single coach and every trainer at your disposal."The injury will at least force Carpenter to get some rest that Matheny said might help stave off fatigue later in the season."This could be one... [More]

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mike Matheny is well aware that he has yet to earn a World Series championship ring during his six seasons as the manager of the Cardinals. It's not like St. Louis, an 11-time World Series champion, would let him forget.When the Cardinals begin spring training next week in Jupiter, Florida, they'll do so as an underdog behind NL rivals Chicago and Milwaukee. Both the Cubs and Brewers finished ahead of St. Louis last year. The Cardinals have missed the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 2007 and '08."The World Series is what we're paid to chase and what our fans expect, and that's exactly what we want to chase and what we expect of ourselves," said Matheny, who replaced Tony La Russa.The Cardinals were 83-79 last season after injuries to top pitching prospect Alex Reyes and free agent signing Dexter Fowler.Reyes is expected to return this season, Fowler is healthy and St. Louis acquired left fielder Marcell Ozuna from Miami in one of the offseason's bigger... [More]

INF Matt Carpenter (shoulder) was also shut down for the year on Friday, ending an up-and-down season that saw him hit a career-low .241, 43 points under his career average. But Carpenter did clout 23 homers to go along with 69 RBIs and a career-high 109 walks, the first time he has drawn more than 100. Some have suggested the team use him as trade bait, but it's unlikely they trade one of their core guys.

1B Matt Carpenter belted the 15th leadoff homer of his career to get St. Louis off to a good start, providing him with just his second hit in 33 career at-bats against Jake Arrieta. Carpenter has cracked six homers since pledging $10,000 for every homer to help aid those affected by Hurricane Harvey. He also drew two more walks, giving him 108 for the year.

--INF Matt Carpenter (shoulder) is playing through his injury for the season's remainder, although it wouldn't be a surprise if he shut it down if the team is eliminated from playoff contention before Sunday. Carpenter, who took a cortisone shot earlier this month, is batting .244 with 22 homers and 68 RBI for the year and has walked a career-high 106 times. His average is a career low.

OF Matt Carpenter, who leads the club in extra-base hits, had one of the Cardinals' four hits and provided the only run, his 22nd homer of the season in the third inning.

1B Matt Carpenter moved from third back to first. He went 2-for-3 with a run scored. On the road trip, he is 9-for-25 (.360).

3B Matt Carpenter is 3-for-13 on the current road trip and was given a night off Tuesday with Jedd Gyorko taking over at third base. "He puts a lot on his shoulders," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "It's even harder with the physical challenges when you're not 100 percent." Carpenter had a recent bout with shoulder tendinitis. He grounded out as a pinch hitter Tuesday.

3B Matt Carpenter was 1-for-3 and broke the Cubs' shutout in the eighth inning with a solo home run. It was his 20th of the year, making it three straight seasons with 20 or more homers.

3B Matt Carpenter's walk in the first inning gave him his first 100-walk season. He drew another one in the fifth before leaving following a sixth-inning strikeout, making him the first Cardinal to reach 100 walks since Albert Pujols did it in 2011. It was the eighth time a St. Louis player has drawn 100 walks in a season, and marked Carpenter's 20th multi-walk game this year.

INF Matt Carpenter could be back in the lineup Friday as the Cardinals return to St. Louis to host the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games. Carpenter missed the final three games of the Padres series with a sore right shoulder.

INF Matt Carpenter has received an injection in the right shoulder he hurt during Monday afternoon's series opener in San Diego. An MRI showed no serious injury. Manager Mike Matheny said Carpenter will miss several more games, in addition to the two he has already missed.

INF Matt Carpenter, who left the series opener at San Diego on Monday with a right shoulder injury, had an MRI exam Tuesday. The results showed no damage, but Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said Carpenter likely would have an injection in the shoulder, which would sideline him for a couple games.

3B Matt Carpenter was removed in the fifth inning of Monday's game with a sore right shoulder. Carpenter has been trying to work through the injury; it's not clear if he can go on Tuesday.

1B and Texas native Matt Carpenter already pledged to help residents of his home state recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Harvey, and his organization is stepping up as well. Carpenter pledged to donate $10,000 for every home run he hits from now until the end of the season to relief efforts, and the Cardinals on Tuesday announced that they will match his pledge. Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright also pledged to match Carpenter's $10,000 donation for each homer. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Texas and the entire Gulf Coast," said Bill DeWitt Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the St. Louis Cardinals. "We want to do our part to help those in need and were inspired by Matt's leadership, as well as his and Adam's spontaneous generosity." Carpenter is off to a good start by homering Tuesday.

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman and Texas native Matt Carpenter already pledged to help residents of his home state recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Harvey, and his organization is stepping up as well.Carpenter pledged to donate $10,000 for every home run he hits from now until the end of the season to relief efforts, and the Cardinals on Tuesday announced that they will match his pledge.Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright also pledged to match Carpenter's $10,000 donation for each homer."Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Texas and the entire Gulf Coast," said Bill DeWitt Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the St. Louis Cardinals. "We want to do our part to help those in need and were inspired by Matt's leadership, as well as his and Adam's spontaneous generosity."Carpenter, who is from the coastal city of Galveston, Texas, bashed his 17th home run against Tampa Bay on Sunday and is looking for his first off Milwaukee right-hander Matt Garza, who starts against St. Louis on Tuesday.

1B Matt Carpenter (virus) returned to the lineup Friday night after a two-game absence, batting in his customary leadoff spot and going 1-for-3. Carpenter was actually sent home on Wednesday in order to keep teammates from getting sick, and was available Thursday night, although he didn't get into the game. Carpenter entered this game batting .245 with 16 homers, 60 RBI and a team-high 84 walks.