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ST. PETERSBURG — Matt Carpenter walked into the visitors clubhouse at Tropicana Field about two hours before first pitch. The versatile infielder said he was thrilled to be joining the Yankees, who he called the “best team in baseball.” He was also walking into a fluid situation that was changing by the hour because of injuries. In fact, less than an hour before the game started, Aaron Hicks was scratched with right hamstring tightness and Carpenter was in the lineup.
The Yankees signed Carpenter, who exercised his opt-out earlier this week, and immediately brought him into the fold with uncertainty about DJ LeMahieu, Josh Donaldson and Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list.
“Yeah, I’m excited to get him here. He’s kind of someone who’s been on our radar, honestly the last couple of months when he was with the Rangers and had that opt out was doing really well in AAA‚” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before the series-opener against the Rays on Thursday. “When he did opt out and we’ve kind of been eyeing him for a while. He is that potential left-handed bat off the bench, that kind of thing. Obviously we’ve got (Stanton) down for a little bit here, so maybe some DH at-bats are there. First and third, obviously he plays, but, just a professional guy from the left side that we feel like can help us.”
Carpenter, 36, has batted .262 with 301 doubles, 28 triples, 155 home runs and 576 RBI in 1,329 games over parts of 11 Major League seasons, all with the St. Louis Cardinals. The left-handed hitter has appeared defensively at third base, first base, second base, right field and left field in his career.
In 21 games with Triple-A Round Rock in the Texas Rangers organization this season, Carpenter batted .275 with five doubles, two triples, six home runs and 19 RBI, before being released on May 19.
“We just had a quick conversation about it, but my response to him is if you want me to load the bags on the plane? That’s what I’ll do,” Carpenter said before being rushed into a hitters’ meeting. “I’m excited to put a uniform on and be a part of the best team in baseball right now. And I’m just fired up to be here, whatever that role looks like. I’m gonna hit the ground running right now.”
LeMahieu, who had a cortisone shot in his wrist, was still out of the lineup and he tried hitting and took balls at third base before Thursday night’s game. He said the shot had not yet helped enough.
Boone said that a decision on the IL could come as soon as after the game.
“If we feel like you know, he made some progress today, that’ll be one of the things that goes into, do we think he can play (Friday), do we not? So, you know, we’re getting close to that point where we would make the call one way or the other,” Boone said.
Donaldson, who is currently battling a respiratory illness, remained in New York and the Yankees are still not sure when he will be back.
“I haven’t spoken to him today. I did text with him briefly that his body feels better today. He came in last night, got the IV and stuff. I know he’s still coughing a lot, but it sounds like he’s doing a lot better,” Boone said. “So another guy that we’ll kind of huddle up and see where we’re at as far as getting them out here or if he needs more time.”
Donaldson has tested negative for COVID-19.
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